Howe, "Gordie" (Gordon)
Hockey
b. March 31, 1928, Floral, SAS
No one else, in any sport, ever performed at as high a level for as long a time as Gordie Howe. In twenty-five seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player six times, was a first-team all-star twelve times and a second-team all-star nine times.
He retired in 1971 but returned two years later, at the age of forty-five, to play with the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros as a teammate with his sons Marty and Mark. He won that league's most valuable player award in 1974, when he scored 100 points on 31 goals and 69 assists. When the Houston team folded in 1977, Howe returned to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers and played three more seasons before retiring in 1980 at the age of fifty-two.
Howe joined the Red Wings in 1946 after a year in the minor leagues. For three seasons, he seemed to be little more than a steady journeyman. But in 1949/50 he finished third in scoring and he was among the top six scorers in the league for twenty more seasons.
During a 1950 Stanley Cup playoff game against Toronto, Howe suffered a serious head injury when he was checked into the boards. He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, but there was some permanent damage that caused an uncontrollable blink and facial spasms at times. His teammates began calling him "Blinky," and Howe never objected.
He came back to lead the NHL in scoring for the next four seasons. After finishing second in 1955/56, he was the scoring leader again in 1956/57 and 1962/63. But Howe was more than a scorer. He was also an outstanding defensive forward who was usually on the ice when Detroit was short-handed or on the power play. During an eight-year period, 1957-64, he averaged more than 40 minutes a game, twice the playing time of most forwards.
Although seasons have lengthened and scoring totals have become inflated since Howe's peak years, he still ranks first in regular season games played (2186) and goals scored (975) and is second to Wayne Gretzky in assists (1383) and total points (2358), including WHA totals for both. Howe also played in 157 NHL playoff games, scoring 68 goals and 92 assists. He won the Hart Trophy in 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1963.
His long-time rival with the Montreal Canadiens, Rocket Richard, said, "Howe is a better all-around player than I was." Richard's teammate, Jean Beliveau, went a little farther: "Gordie Howe is the best hockey player I have ever seen." And Bill Gadsby, who played with Howe and against him, said, "Gordie Howe was not only the greatest hockey player I've ever seen, but the greatest athlete."