The family of hockey great Gordie Howe wants to return Mr. Hockey to his home.

A city official says the family has requested that the cremated remains of Howe and his wife Colleen be interred at the base of a statue that honours him in Saskatoon.

Catherine Gryba says the city will have to apply to the province to have the statue at SaskTel Centre and a small portion of adjacent area declared a cemetery.

Gordie Howe statue outside the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. (Peter Mills/CBC)

Gryba says it would be a fitting tribute to someone who always remembered his roots.

Howe was born in Floral, Sask., but his family moved nine days later to Saskatoon, where he grew up before embarking on a record-setting hockey career in the United States.

He died on June 10 at the age of 88.