Not only the number one on my list for Detroit sports legends, but also the man given credit for being the all time greatest all around hockey player in the history of the NHL, and one of the finest athletes of all time is Gordie Howe. The stats he put up as well as years player are mind boggling skating for 6 decades, 32- seasons, 2,600 points, and playing in 29 all star games Gordie Howe is a man nobody will ever forget and his legacy will only grow stronger. With his talent not only did he outlast the energizer bunny retiring at age 51, but he helped to raise awareness to the NHL helping it expand 4 times its size as well as create the need for a separate league which later on became what we know as the Arena Hockey League (AHL), which are minor league teams for the NHL. When he retired he held more records than any other sports man of his time. Howe also came out of retirement at age 45 to play with his own sons and won the championship that year, Gordie winning the Mr. Hockey (MVP) award and his youngest son Mark winning rookie of the year. Surprisingly enough Howe had his best seasons at age 41 and 48, right before retiring with the Hartford Whalers at age 52 after leading them into the playoffs.
The Beginning
Gordie Howe was born in Floral, Saskatchewan Canada on a small farm with a big family, one of nine children. Being born in the Great Depression Howe's family moved around a lot because of his dad looking for work, normally small, odd farm jobs. In fact when Howe was only nine days old his family packed up their bags and moved a few hours away to a factory where his dad found a good paying job with part time work moving oil drum barrels. This is where Howe learned how to play hockey and fell in love. He started skiing at age four on the local pond behind the factory. Going in early with his dad and skating to what seemed to be hours all by him working on his stick and foot skills at only 6 years old. It wasn't until he turned 9 in which he was allowed to partake in the local organized hockey league. His mother Katharine says that it was hockey all the time, when there was snow and ice he would be at the pond, when the ice was to thin he would freeze part of the street just to skate, and the few months of sun and warmth they had in Canada he would be shooting at the brick wall on the side of the house occasionally breaking a window or shingles from the roof. How was unique in the fact that he used a straight stick at the time, and was neither left nor right handed when using his stick but fell under the "ambidextrous" category. Howe wasn't much of a student, failing the third grade twice and not making it past middle school, but he was well-mannered, quit, and respectful boy who was feared on the ice. He originally started off as a goaltender, then moved to defense, and finally settled in on playing forward. He was said to be "big and awkward" and loved to pick fights on the ice but he could shoot the lights out always leading the team in goals scored. |
Playing Career
At the mere age of 15 Howe took part in the New York Rangers camp in Windsor, but being so young it didn't turn out so well for him. A year later while playing in a local Canadian League that had a tournament in Detroit a scout from the Detroit Red Wings was there watching his son's team play, but ended up watching the 16-year-old Howe instead. Amazed by such young talent and the ability to dominate the game he signed a contract with the Red Wings to their junior team, the Galt Red Wings out of Ontario. In his second year he was promoted to a team called the Omaha Knights in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and had 48 points in 51 games at the age of 17. But while playing in Omaha the Maple Leafs saw that Howe was not properly listed as property of the Detroit Red Wings, and being such good friends with the coach of the Red Wings informed them of their error so they could fix it.
At the mere age of 15 Howe took part in the New York Rangers camp in Windsor, but being so young it didn't turn out so well for him. A year later while playing in a local Canadian League that had a tournament in Detroit a scout from the Detroit Red Wings was there watching his son's team play, but ended up watching the 16-year-old Howe instead. Amazed by such young talent and the ability to dominate the game he signed a contract with the Red Wings to their junior team, the Galt Red Wings out of Ontario. In his second year he was promoted to a team called the Omaha Knights in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and had 48 points in 51 games at the age of 17. But while playing in Omaha the Maple Leafs saw that Howe was not properly listed as property of the Detroit Red Wings, and being such good friends with the coach of the Red Wings informed them of their error so they could fix it.
NHL
Howe made his NHL debut at the age of 18 with the Red Wings in 1946 scoring in his debut, which was the first of 975. Howe quickly demonstrated that he was a playmaker, goal scorer, and had a willingness to throw a punch or two. As a matter of fact, his coach had to pull him aside his first season and the him "I know you can fight but how about you show me you can play hockey." Many people know what a hat-trick is but Howe created one of his own in which hockey fans and players how as the Gordie Howe hat trick which consists on a fight win, assist, and a goal in the same game. Being such a mammoth of a man Howe was able to dominate the competition for over 5 decades, a feat that far surpassed any hockey player to play the game to this day.
In the opening game of the playoffs Howe was charging Toronto Maple Leafs Ted Kennedy and in order to protect himself he covered his hear only to lift his stick catching Howe right under the eye splitting his eyelid and cutting into his eyeball sending him skidding into board headfirst. He was immediately rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull, and some bad brain damage. Thankfully the surgeons were able to relieve the pressure on his brain but leaving him with a tic giving him the nickname "blinky". The wings went on to win game seven in the Stanley Cup in double OT in Olympia Stadium chanting "we want Howe" causing him to walk to center ice with a shaved head taking it all in. Howe was fully recovered the next season after his near death experience after scoring 86 points, 20 points more than the runner up in what turned out to be the first of four MVP's in a row.
Howe helped Detroit get to the Stanley Cup four times, as well as keep them in first place for 7 consecutive years. Something no other team has accomplished to this very day. How and his teammates Sid Abel, and Ted Lindsay during this time were the hottest trio to there. They were so hot one season the three held the 1, 2 and 3 spots in the NHL for goals scored earning the nickname "The Production Line" because of the automotive industry presence in Detroit at the time. Gordie came forth s one of the games superstar standing out in every category always finishing top of the charts with Maurice Richards of Montreal Canadians. They were similar in a variety of ways. The both wore the number 9, they always competed for the scoring title, and they also loved to play physical as forwards. As a matter of fact when Howe was a rookie with the wings the first encounter they had Richards was pestering Howe, and Howe knocked him out cold with one punch after being shoved head first into the glass.
Gordie Howe continued to dominate in the 6-team league in the 70 game season era, and in 1960 he surpassed Richards in total points with 965 and won his 6th MVP and schooling championship in his 16-year career. Six years later when Howe was 41, two years after the expansion of the league to 12 team Howe had the first ever career 100 point season finishing with 103 total points.
Howe made his NHL debut at the age of 18 with the Red Wings in 1946 scoring in his debut, which was the first of 975. Howe quickly demonstrated that he was a playmaker, goal scorer, and had a willingness to throw a punch or two. As a matter of fact, his coach had to pull him aside his first season and the him "I know you can fight but how about you show me you can play hockey." Many people know what a hat-trick is but Howe created one of his own in which hockey fans and players how as the Gordie Howe hat trick which consists on a fight win, assist, and a goal in the same game. Being such a mammoth of a man Howe was able to dominate the competition for over 5 decades, a feat that far surpassed any hockey player to play the game to this day.
In the opening game of the playoffs Howe was charging Toronto Maple Leafs Ted Kennedy and in order to protect himself he covered his hear only to lift his stick catching Howe right under the eye splitting his eyelid and cutting into his eyeball sending him skidding into board headfirst. He was immediately rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull, and some bad brain damage. Thankfully the surgeons were able to relieve the pressure on his brain but leaving him with a tic giving him the nickname "blinky". The wings went on to win game seven in the Stanley Cup in double OT in Olympia Stadium chanting "we want Howe" causing him to walk to center ice with a shaved head taking it all in. Howe was fully recovered the next season after his near death experience after scoring 86 points, 20 points more than the runner up in what turned out to be the first of four MVP's in a row.
Howe helped Detroit get to the Stanley Cup four times, as well as keep them in first place for 7 consecutive years. Something no other team has accomplished to this very day. How and his teammates Sid Abel, and Ted Lindsay during this time were the hottest trio to there. They were so hot one season the three held the 1, 2 and 3 spots in the NHL for goals scored earning the nickname "The Production Line" because of the automotive industry presence in Detroit at the time. Gordie came forth s one of the games superstar standing out in every category always finishing top of the charts with Maurice Richards of Montreal Canadians. They were similar in a variety of ways. The both wore the number 9, they always competed for the scoring title, and they also loved to play physical as forwards. As a matter of fact when Howe was a rookie with the wings the first encounter they had Richards was pestering Howe, and Howe knocked him out cold with one punch after being shoved head first into the glass.
Gordie Howe continued to dominate in the 6-team league in the 70 game season era, and in 1960 he surpassed Richards in total points with 965 and won his 6th MVP and schooling championship in his 16-year career. Six years later when Howe was 41, two years after the expansion of the league to 12 team Howe had the first ever career 100 point season finishing with 103 total points.
Retirement #1
At the age of 44 Howe decided it was time for him to retire and focus on being a family man to his 9 and 7-year-old son after 25 seasons with the Red Wings. He retired with786 goals, 1,023 assists and 1,809 points putting him in the number one slot in NHL history in every category. The Red Wings later went on to hire Howe as a team vice-president. Howe managed to be VP for two years, but didn't get nearly as much pleasure up in the box as he did down on the ice, and was presented with an opportunity that he could not refuse. To go play for the Houston Aeros at age with his sons Mark (rookie) and Marty (played 2 seasons with Houston already). Similar to the modern day Brett Favre Howe was worried that if he came back and failed he would be seen as the guy trying for a stupid comeback because he just couldn't accept retirement and not all the other records he set while he was in his "prime". He may have been a little slower that when he was 20 or the other young bloods but he did not miss a beat. Finishing he season with a AHL championship and winning the MVP, while his son Mark who played on the same line as him was named AHL rookie of the year. He led Houston to win yet another championship the next year and finished with 100+ points all three seasons. Three years later all three of the Howe's moved up North to play with the New England whalers in 1977. Two years later the Whalers moved out of the USHL into the NHL and only Gordie and Mark made the team, resulting in Marty to go back down to the minors. Two years later at the age of 51 would be Howe's last year and he finished in the NHL with 15 goals and 41 assists. Soon after the 52 year old hockey legend retired. |
Retirement #2
As somewhat of a publicity stunt Howe came out of retirement for a second time after being out of the league for quite some time Howe signed a one day contract with the International Hockey League playing for the Detroit Vipers. Doing so he became not only the first player to play a game in his 60's at almost 70 years old, but also the first and probably the only man ever to play 6 decades of hockey. "Howe ranks third in NHL history with 1,850 total points, including 801 goals and 1,049 assists. When career regular season goals from both the NHL and the WHA are combined, he ranks first in goals with 975. At the time of his retirement, Howe's professional totals, including playoffs, for the NHL and WHA combined, were first. He finished with 2,421 games played, 1,071 goals, 1,518 assists, and 2,589 points. Wayne Gretzky has since passed him in goals (1,072), assists (2,297), and points (3,369), but not games played or games played with one team." (http://www.gordiehowe.com/?p=45) |
Awards and achievements NHL/WHA
• 23-time NHL All-Star [18]
• 12-time NHL First All-Star Team
• 9-time NHL Second All-Star Team
• 4-time Stanley Cup champion (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
• 6-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1963)
• 6-time Hart Memorial Trophy – 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963
• Lester B. Patrick Award winner (1967)
• Lionel Conacher Award (1963)
• Hockey Hall of Fame (1972)
• 2-time Avco World Trophy winner (1974, 1975)
• Gary L. Davidson Trophy winner (1974)
• 2-time WHA All-Star.
• Top 5 in NHL scoring for 20 consecutive seasons [4]
• Most games played for a single franchise (1,967, Detroit Red Wings)
• Most goals and points with a single franchise (786 and 1,809, respectively, Detroit)
• Most NHL games played (1967)
• Oldest NHL player at time of retirement (52), and oldest player to play in an NHL game, also only player to play in the NHL after age 50
• Only player to play in the NHL in five different decades (1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s)
• Upon his retirement in 1980, the last NHL player to have played in the league in both the 1940s & 1950s (the latter shared with teammate Bobby Hull)
• NHL Lifetime Achievement Award winner (2008)
• His #9 has been honored or retired by these teams:
• Detroit Red Wings #9 (retired; played from 1946–1971)
• New England/Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes (retired, played from 1977–1980 while franchise was in Hartford; Hurricanes honor his number but no banner hangs in the PNC Arena, as Howe never played there)
• Houston Aeros (AHL) (retired; Howe played for the Houston Aeros (WHA) from 1973–1977)
• In 1998, he was ranked #3 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, the highest-ranking right wing on the list.
In 2010, he was inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame as a member of “The Howe Family” (including Gordie, Mark, Marty, and Colleen Howe).
• 23-time NHL All-Star [18]
• 12-time NHL First All-Star Team
• 9-time NHL Second All-Star Team
• 4-time Stanley Cup champion (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
• 6-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1963)
• 6-time Hart Memorial Trophy – 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963
• Lester B. Patrick Award winner (1967)
• Lionel Conacher Award (1963)
• Hockey Hall of Fame (1972)
• 2-time Avco World Trophy winner (1974, 1975)
• Gary L. Davidson Trophy winner (1974)
• 2-time WHA All-Star.
• Top 5 in NHL scoring for 20 consecutive seasons [4]
• Most games played for a single franchise (1,967, Detroit Red Wings)
• Most goals and points with a single franchise (786 and 1,809, respectively, Detroit)
• Most NHL games played (1967)
• Oldest NHL player at time of retirement (52), and oldest player to play in an NHL game, also only player to play in the NHL after age 50
• Only player to play in the NHL in five different decades (1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s)
• Upon his retirement in 1980, the last NHL player to have played in the league in both the 1940s & 1950s (the latter shared with teammate Bobby Hull)
• NHL Lifetime Achievement Award winner (2008)
• His #9 has been honored or retired by these teams:
• Detroit Red Wings #9 (retired; played from 1946–1971)
• New England/Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes (retired, played from 1977–1980 while franchise was in Hartford; Hurricanes honor his number but no banner hangs in the PNC Arena, as Howe never played there)
• Houston Aeros (AHL) (retired; Howe played for the Houston Aeros (WHA) from 1973–1977)
• In 1998, he was ranked #3 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, the highest-ranking right wing on the list.
In 2010, he was inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame as a member of “The Howe Family” (including Gordie, Mark, Marty, and Colleen Howe).