Today at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, the hockey world is formally saying goodbye to one of the pillars of hockey, the inimitable #9.
Gordie Howe passed away at the age of 88 last week but it didn’t matter if you were old or young – everybody had something to say about him. Howe left an indelible mark on the hockey world and his accolades seem never ending. Howe was the first player to play in 1500 NHL games; he’s the the only player with 22 consecutive 20 goal season; he played 32 seasons between the NHL and WHA; he holds the record for goals by a right winger with 801; he also appeared in 23 NHL All Star Games.
There’s also an Edmonton connection with Gordie Howe.
As many know he was the hero of one Wayne Douglas Gretzky. There’s not many more iconic photos than the one of a 12 year old Gretzky posing with Howe in the early 70s. Mr Hockey shaped the career of the Great One and until he joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL, Gretzky’s number of choice was #9. 
Who could have predicted in the early 70s that the kid on the right would be spoken of in the same breath as Howe as one of the greatest athletes of all time?
That picture wouldn’t be the only time that their paths would intersect. During the 1978-79 WHA season Howe and Gretzky not only played against each other (Gordie with the New England Whalers, and Wayne with the Edmonton Oilers), but also, along with Gordie’s son Mark, joined forces for the WHA All Star Series against Russia’s Moscow Dynamo at the then Northlands Coliseum.
The WHA would win the series three games to none but the result is not the important part of the series. In Game 1 Gretzky and the Howes would put up seven points. Mark and Wayne scored in Game 2 while the elder Howe had an assist in another victorious effort. (The games are on YouTube. Check them out: you’d swear that all three of them had been playing together for 15 years and not just for a short series.)
On October 15, 1989, Gordie Howe was in attendance at Northlands Coliseum to see his NHL points record (1850) broken by Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings. On March 23, 1994, Wayne would overtake Gordie once again, this time for career goals in LA with his 802nd goal against the Vancouver Canucks at the Forum.
Though they are forever linked, Howe’s legacy spans well beyond Gretzky. A goal, an assist and a fight in the same game is known as a Gordie Howe hat trick. How has long been regarded as one of the nicest people in the game off the ice and he’s arguably the greatest athlete to have come out of the province of Saskatchewan.
The longevity of Howe is something that still blows my mind as well as his ability to produce at ages in which players are long retired. Closing in on his 50th birthday in the 77-78 season, Howe had a 96 point season to lead the then New England Whalers in scoring.
Let that sink in.
An almost 50 year old man came four points shy of a 100 point season in a league that quality-wise was only behind the NHL. Wow. I’d love to be talking to you via hologram or whatever we’ll have as internet in 2047 and say that Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel is doing the same but I just can’t see it happening. Gordie Howe was one of a kind. Oh, and did I forget to mention that his final pro game was in 1997 with the IHL’s Detroit Vipers?? I was in Kindergarten when he retired for the final time.
I truly wish I would have been able to have been able to attend a game in which Howe was playing live, in any league. The stories about how respected he was on the ice, his ability as an ambidextrous shooter and stories about his incredible strength on and off the ice are the stuff of legends. Getting into a fight with the leader of the Red Wings always looked like it was a terrible idea.
Thousands are playing their respects in Detroit to the man known as Mr.Hockey and you can’t dispute for a second that he doesn’t deserve every bit of it.
Rest in Peace #9.
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