Morenz, "Howie" (Howard W.)
Hockey
b. Sept. 21, 1902, Mitchell, ONT
d. March 8, 1937
His nicknames say a lot about Morenz. He was known as the "Stratford Streak," the "Mitchell Meteor," the "Swift Swiss" and, finally, as the "Babe Ruth of Hockey." In 1950, he was voted Canada's greatest hockey player of the half century.
A teammate, Toe Blake, called him "a man with remarkable skills who laughed hard and played hard." A long-time opponent said of him, "When Howie skates full speed, everyone else on the ice seems to be skating backwards."
Morenz played amateur hockey in Stratford, where his family had moved when he was fourteen. After he scored nine goals in an amateur game, the Montreal Canadiens gave him a $1,000 signing bonus, and he joined them for the 1923-24 season. He scored three goals in the first game of the Stanley Cup semi-finals and added another in the second game as the Canadiens beat the Calgary Tigers. They went on to win the cup with a two-game victory over Vancouver.
The league's top scorer in 1927-28 and 1930-31, Morenz won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in 1928, 1931, and 1932. He was traded to Chicago in 1934 and went to the New York Rangers the following season. He was unhappy with both teams, and his performance showed it.
Morenz returned to Montreal in 1936. He had scored 20 goals by January 28, 1937, when he collided with another player and suffered four broken bones in his left leg and ankle.
Despondent because he would never play hockey again, Morenz had a nervous breakdown and died of a heart attack in the hospital less than six weeks after the injury. His funeral was held at center ice in the Montreal Forum. An estimated 25,000 fans showed up to pay their last respects.
Morenz scored 273 goals and had 197 assists in 550 regular season games, with 21 goals and 11 assists in 47 playoff games.