Hallmark Channel to air Shanks’ Mr. Hockey on May 4

Stargate SG-1‘s Michael Shanks hits the ice as the legendary Gordie Howe in Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story. The Hallmark Channel announced today that it will air the TV movie on Saturday, May 4 (9/8c).

Shanks (Stargate‘s Daniel Jackson) stars as Howe, who played for the Detroit Red Wings for most of his career. In the movie the older Howe comes out of retirement when his wife Colleen (Kathleen Robertson, Beverly Hills: 90210) brokers a deal for him to play alongside his sons in the newly-formed World Hockey Association (WHA).

Howe officially retired in 1980 at the age of 52, and was the NHL’s all-time leader in games played (1,767), goals (801), and points scored (1,850).

It’s a natural fit for Shanks, a Canadian native and long-time hockey player. Stargate veteran Andy Mikita also directed the film for CBC.

Mr. Hockey will air in Canada on April 28, according to Michael Shanks Online.

Meanwhile, Shanks’ new supernatural medical drama Saving Hope will air in Canada this summer and has had its order expanded to 18 episodes.

Head over to The Futon Critic to see the full press release.