Gordie Howe (Mr. Hockey, No Number)

Gordon “Gordie” Howe (March 31, 1928 - June 10, 2016) was the only player in NHL history to compete in five different decades and was named the second greatest player of all-time by The Hockey News, behind only Wayne Gretzky. After one successful season in the minor leagues with the Omaha Knights of the United States hockey League, Gordie joined the Detroit Red Wings big club in 1946 and never looked back. Howe played right wing on “The Production Line” with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, leading Detroit to seven-consecutive first-place finishes from 1949-1955 and four Stanley Cup Championships. In 1949-50, the three finished 1-2-3 in scoring to lead the league. Gordie was a physical specimen with all of the attributes of a great hockey player, speed, strength, skill and vision. Though he began his career eager to prove himself by fighting often, Howe’s elite skills came forth making him the greatest player of his era and earned him the moniker “Mr. Hockey.” From early on in his career and still today, posting a Gordie Howe hat trick, refers to a player scoring a goal, an assist and getting into a fight. (Gordie only had two.) In his rookie season, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, the league’s superstar, challenged the much bigger Howe with a shove and Gordie knocked out Richard with one punch.

In the 1949-50 Stanley Cup playoffs, Howe nearly has his career and life ended when he missed a body check to Maple Leafs’ Ted Kennedy, barreling head first into the boards and fracturing his skull. He underwent an operation to relieve the pressure on his brain and made a miraculous comeback the following year, winning his first of six Art Ross Trophies as the league’s leading point scorer. Howe had a unique ability as an ambidextrous player, able to shoot from both sides and from 1950-1963, Gordie led the NHL in games played eight times, five times in goals, assists three times, and points six times. In postseasons actions, Gordie led all players in games played seven times, goals three times, assists once and six times in total points. He won three consecutive Art Ross Trophies from 1952-1954 and was named the Hart Trophy winner six times (1952-1953, 1957-1958, 1960, 1963). Howe played 32 years for the Red Wings (1946-1971), the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (1973-1977) and the New England/Hartford Whalers.

Gordie had the unique pleasure of playing seven years with his two sons, Mark and Marty to finish his career. Playing on a line with his boys, Gordie was named the 1974 Gary L. Davidson Award winner as the WHA’s Most Valuable Player. (Two years later, the award was renamed the Gordie Howe Trophy.) The Howe line led the Houston Aeros to back-to-back WHA Championships in 1973 and 1974. Gordie retired for good following the 1979-80 season with the Hartford Whalers. He finished his career with 801 NHL goals and 1,049 assists for 1,850 points in 1,767 games (a record for games played). He added 174 WHA goals and 334 assists in 419 games. In the playoffs, Gordie posted 68 goals and 92 assists in 157 NHL playoff games. He added 28 goals and 43 assists in 78 WHA playoff games. Howe was named to 14 NHL All-Star First Teams and played in 23 NHL All-Star Games from 1948-1980. Gordie Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. In 1998, Gordie Howe was named the second greatest player, behind Wayne Gretzky, in NHL history on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.