Saskatoon Blades to wear special Gordie Howe jerseys on Sept. 25 (Photo)

September 25 is going to be a big day in the City of Saskatoon as residents will celebrate “Thank You, Mr. Hockey Day,” which will feature a number of events honoring the late Gordie Howe.

The Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades will host the festivities with things beginning in the morning that will see the ashes of Howe and his wife Colleen interred at the Gordie Howe Statue, as well as a trip to Gordie Howe Bridge, which was renamed in June.

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“We wanted to plan a really special day and when we found out about the ashes and then went to work to make that happen – and it is happening – I think that takes it to a whole new level,” Blades president Steve Hogle told Global News.

On the ice, the Blades will pay tribute to Mr. Hockey, who grew up in Saskatoon, with a special jersey for that afternoon’s game against the Swift Current Broncos. Photos of Howe will be featured on the sleeves and bottom of the jersey and his signature will be on each player’s helmet. His No. 9 be painted on the ice at Sasktel Centre behind both nets.

The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with the money raised benefiting the Gordie Howe Fund for Alzheimer’s Research.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy