Mr. Hockey My Story
Page 22
I first met Bobby when he was a kid, and played against him in his first NHL game. Years later, we’re still friends. Here I am with him and Marty taking in a Panthers game.
As a kid growing up in Saskatchewan, I never dreamed I’d have a statue with my name on it. What an incredible honor.
I never did get to play in the Olympics, but I did get to carry the torch for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. It was special to be part of that.
I will always think of hockey as an outdoor sport, since that is the way I first played it. That’s just one more reason I enjoyed dropping the puck for Steve Yzerman and Darryl Sittler at the alumni game at the Winter Classic in 2014. But really, it doesn’t matter where the ice is—the game will never change.
Visit http://bit.ly/mrhockey for a larger version of this table.
Awards
Art Ross Trophy
1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1962–63 (NHL leading scorer)
First All-Star Team Right Wing
1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70
Hart Memorial Trophy
1951–52, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1962-63 (MVP of the NHL)
Lester Patrick Trophy
1966–67 (presented for outstanding service to hockey in the United States )
Second All-Star Team Right Wing
1948–49, 1949–50, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67
Order of Canada
1971
Gary L. Davidson Trophy
1972 (MVP of the WHA)
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
1972
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award
2008 (inaugural recipient)
Inducted into the WHA Hall of Fame
2010 (as a member of the Howe family)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I owe a debt of gratitude to a number of people without whom this book would have stayed on the drawing board. My children, of course, always come first. Marty, Mark, Cathy, and Murray, thank you for making this project possible, as well as being the best kids anyone could ask for. As ever, I’d also like to thank my wife, Colleen, who brought so much happiness to my life in more than fifty years of marriage. I miss you, honey.
I’d also like to thank my parents, Albert and Katherine. So much of who I am, I owe to them.
This would be incomplete without a special thank you to a few people that should be acknowledged. Bill and Edna Gadsby have been life friends to Colleen and me. I still cherish their friendship in good times and sad. Ron Toigo and his family have been like extended family, and we look forward to our trips to Vancouver. Thanks too to Bill Dineen, who believed in me and brought Marty, Mark and myself to the Houston Aeros and fulfilled my dream of playing pro hockey alongside my sons.
I would like to thank Felix and Reta Gatt for everything. Felix has been so helpful to me and my family. A more positive person you’ll never meet. Finally, Bob Philpot and family. I have been fishing with Bob, his grandfather, father and friends since the 50s. What wonderful people.
The coaches and teachers I’ve had over the years also deserve a special thank you. Without their support, kids like me would never make it to the NHL.
A sincere thanks goes to Paul Haavardsrud, who helped to take the thoughts in my head and put them down on paper. I appreciate the dedication, skill, and hard work it took to bring my story to these pages. This book also wouldn’t have happened without Nick Garrison and his team at Penguin. Without his determination and expertise this project would have remained an idea instead of becoming a reality.
Finally I would like to offer a thank you to all the hockey fans I have encountered while at the arena but more so in my everyday walk of life. Whether at the rink, a public appearance, crossing paths at an airport, or just a brief encounter while having breakfast at the local diner, every interaction brings a warmth and kindness with it. I thank you all for the kind words, the smiles, hugs and laughter. Hopefully I have enriched your lives as much as you have enriched mine.
INDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
Abel, Sid, 86
advice to Gordie Howe, 69
as Black Hawks coach, 124
and Gordie Howe’s first NHL game, 68, 69
meets Gordie Howe as child, 72
as part of Production LIne, 73, 76, 105
as player-coach with Black Hawks, 110
as Red Wings coach, 172
scoring and assist statistics (1949–50), 76
talent of, 82
as victim of NHL changes, 137, 148
wins Hart Trophy, 75
Adams, Helen, 112
Adams, Jack
and birth of Marty Howe, 122–23
coaching style, 103
comments on Gordie Howe’s shooting ability, 34
concerns about Gordie Howe fights, 70, 71
and contracts, 65, 66
contract signing, 65
discusses Gordie Howe’s future with Ivan, 61
and early Red Wings, 102–3
fired by B. Norris, 172
funeral, 144
and Gordie Howe and Red Wings junior club, 55, 56, 57
and Gordie Howe’s first NHL game, 67
hires Ivan, 72
personality, 115–16, 144, 145
and player accommodation, 64
and players’ personal lives, 111, 112, 126–37
power and control of, 111–12, 113, 115–16, 123–24, 128–29, 143–44
prohibits Gordie Howe’s baseball playing, 22
promise of Red Wings jacket, 55, 57, 58–59, 66–67
reacts to players’ association, 152
relationship with Gordie Howe, 116, 149
relationship with Norris, 146
social life, 112–13
success of, 146
temper, 116, 123, 155
trades, 104, 105, 110–11, 117, 124, 138, 143–44, 147–48
trading philosophy, 103
in training camp, 112
unpredictability of, 68
agents, 65, 148
Agnew, Spiro, 198
Ak-Sar-Ben. See Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
Alcott, Joe, 182
Ali, Muhammad, 187
All-Star Game (1948), 71
All-Star Game (1980), 217
All-Star Games, 76
All-Star Team, 150
American Hockey League, 61
Apps, Syl, 74
Arthritis Foundation, 195
Art Ross Trophy, 89, 124, 173, 232
Auerbach, Red, 109
Avco Cup, 210, 214
Babando, Pete, 79, 104
Baldwin, Howard, 215
Ballard, Harold, 217
Barilko, Bill, 89
Baseball Hall of Fame, 128
Baun, Bobby, 187–88
BeeHive Corn Syrup, 45, 46, 68
Béliveau, Jean, 7, 125, 172
Bentley, Doug, 42, 43
Bentley, Max, 42–43
Blackburn, Don, 216
Bonin, Marcel, 147
Bossy, Mike, 69
Boston Bruins
playoffs of 1953, 119
Boucher, Frank, 51
Bowman, Scotty, 217
Brewer, Carl, 188
Brimsek, Frank, 68–69
Broda, Turk, 46, 68, 74
Brown, Adam, 67, 68
Brown, Bobby, 209
Bucyk, Johnny, 147
Campbell, Clarence, 139, 197–98
Carl’s Chop House, 88
Carveth, Joe, 60, 69
Cavanagh, Terry, 56
Central Professional Hockey League, 172–73
Chelios, Chris, 4
Che
vrefils, Réal, 147
Chicago Black Hawks
Abel as player-coach, 110
Clark, Wendel, 4
collective bargaining, 151
Conacher, Roy, 74
contracts, 65, 149, 150, 151
Cooper, Carson, 60, 117
Crawford, Buck, 33
Crawford, Doris, 33
Creighton, Dave, 147
Crosby, Sidney, 5–6, 73
Davis, Lorne, 147
DeJordy, Denis, 171
Delvecchio, Alex, 105, 106, 110, 124, 125, 171, 209
Detroit Cougars, 101
Detroit Falcons, 101
Detroit Red Wings
bring Gordie Howe up from farm club, 2
changes at, 137–38
closeness as a team, 82, 83, 84
contract signing policy, 65
feelings about Canadiens, 125
first Stanley Cup win (1936), 102
Gordie Howe resigns from, 202–3
and Gordie Howe’s comeback, 201–2
Gordie Howe signs with junior club, 55
history, 101–4
playoffs of 1951, 106–7
playoffs of 1953, 117–19
playoffs of 1966–71, 189
retire Gordie Howe’s jersey, 198
rivalry with Canadiens, 138–39
scout Gordie Howe, 53
sign Gordie Howe for training camp, 54
Stanley Cup final series (1954), 124–27
Stanley Cup final series (1961), 172
Stanley Cup playoffs (1954), 124–25
Stanley Cup win (1955), 140–41
Stanley Cup wins, 102, 104, 108
Dewsbury, Al, 104
Dineen, Bill, 195–96, 198, 199, 200, 206, 208, 209, 211
Dineen, Pat, 200
Evans, Joe, 87
Fedorov, Sergei, 4, 5
Feller, Bob, 151
Fetisov, Slava, 5
fights, 41–42, 61, 70–71, 164–66, 170–71
Fontinato, Lou, 165, 166, 168
Gadsby, Bill, 165, 174, 175
Galt Metal Industries, 57
Galt Red Wings, 56, 58, 59
Garagiola, Joe, 181
Gee, George, 105
Geoffrion, Bernie “Boom-Boom,” 124, 125
Gilmour, Doug, 4
Godfrey, Warren, 147
Goldham, Bob, 105
Gordie Howe Day, 178
Gordie Howe Hockeyland, 187
Gordie Howe Night, 160, 177
Gordon Howe Park, 178
Goren, Charles, 84
Greenberg, Hammerin’ Hank, 127
Gretzky, Wayne, 6, 69, 73, 173, 176, 193
and backyard rink, 24
meets Gordie Howe, 7
Hall, Glenn, 147, 152
Harkness, Ned, 183
Hartford Whalers, 215–16, 217
Hart Trophy, 75, 110, 150, 173, 232
Harvey, Doug, 124, 125, 126, 127, 139, 151–52, 195, 198, 200, 201
Henderson, Paul, 211
Henry, Jim, 104, 107
Hewitt, Foster, 29, 30, 45
hockey equipment, 24, 25–26, 34, 49
Gordie Howe’s modifications to, 179
modern, 179
Hockey Hall of Fame
Brimsek in, 69
Hodge, Charlie, 175–76
Hodge family, 24
Hodges, Bert, 33
Hodges, Frances, 33
Hollingworth, Buddy, 147
Houston Aeros, 195, 196–97
Howe, Albert (father), 10, 11–12, 15, 17–19, 129, 159, 205
Howe, Amelia (sister-in-law), 30
Howe, Cathy (daughter), 155, 156, 185, 201, 203, 205, 216
Howe, Colleen (wife), 38, 112. See also Joffa, Colleen
advice on Gordie Howe retirement, 190
birth of first child, 122–23
brings Gordie Howe and Fontinato together, 168
concern about Gordie Howe’s health, 206
fund-raising, 194
and Gordie Howe kidney stone attack, 185
life as wife of NHL player, 128–36
reaction to Adams’ planting of stories, 128–29
role in managing business interests, 187
view of Gordie Howe as parent, 168–69
and WHA decisions, 207, 215
Howe, Edna (sister), 13–14
Howe, Gladys (sister), 78, 79
Howe, Gordie
and All-Star teams, 71, 75, 76, 124
on assists and goals, 117
auto parts company, 128, 129
and baseball, 113–15, 127–28
birth, 10, 11
birth of children, 122, 129, 155, 203
childhood hockey experiences, 24–26, 30–35
comeback, 199–204
competition with Richard, 173–74
contract with Aeros, 211
courtship of Colleen, 87–100
early years, 12–27, 35–41
education, 22, 32, 52–53, 57, 58
and family life, 154–59, 168
financial situation, 129, 132, 144–45, 186–87, 200–201
first NHL game, 67–68
first season in NHL, 70
first skating experience, 13–14
first WHA game, 209
game-day meal routine, 212–13
game-day rituals, 213
grandchildren, 216
injuries, 75, 77–79, 115, 169, 180–85, 189, 199–200, 208, 209, 210
joins Aeros, 200–201
joins Red Wings, 2, 65
joins Whalers, 215–16
letters from Colleen, 130–36
letters to Colleen, 91–92, 97–99
marriage, 100
meets Colleen Joffa, 86–87
penalties, 61 (See also fights)
playing style, 169–70
post-retirement work (1971), 191–93
and Red Wings jacket, 55, 57, 58–59, 66–67
Red Wings jersey retired, 198
and Red Wings training camp, 54–55
relationship with Adams, 116, 149
resigns from Red Wings organization, 202–3
retirement (1971), 190
retirement (1980), 217
returns to NHL, 216
right- and left-handed shooting, 33–34
scoring and assists statistics, 3, 70, 74, 76, 118, 119, 124, 173, 174–76, 189, 210, 214, 218
scouted by NY Rangers, 48–50
scouted by Red Wings, 53
shooting ability, 33–35
and siblings, 12, 178–79
signs with Red Wings, 65
signs with Red Wings junior club, 55
sons’ interest in hockey, 156
sweater number, 74
temperament, 168–69
training regime, 205–7
turns professional, 59
Howe, Katherine. See also Schultz, Katherine
Howe, Katherine (mother), 12–13, 14, 30, 193
Howe, Mark (son)
abilities, 207
awards, 210
birth, 129, 203
and Bruins, 215
drafted to Aeros, 195–96, 197, 198
and Hall of Fame, 214
hijinks as child, 135, 157
home life in Houston, 212
joins Aeros, 200
letter to father, 157–58
love of hockey, 41, 156
Mark Howe rule, 155
NHL alumni game, 5
plays with Gordie Howe, 3–4
plays with Gordie Howe at fund-raiser, 194
plays with Gordie Howe for Whalers, 216
reaction to losses, 209
running skills, 205
and Summit Series, 211
Howe, Marty (son)
abilities, 207, 210
birth, 122, 123, 203
concerns about Gordie Howe’s health, 206
drafted to Aeros, 197, 198
dyslexia diagnosis, 22
family life, 127, 131, 132, 155
, 157, 212
feelings about hockey, 41, 156–57
hijinks as child, 135
hockey career, 214
plays with Gordie Howe, 3
plays with Gordie Howe at fund-raiser, 194
plays with Gordie Howe for Whalers, 216
and Red Wings, 215
and Summit Series, 211
and Toronto Marlboros, 195
Howe, Murray (son), 155, 158–59, 184–85, 194, 201, 204, 205
Howe, Norm (brother), 47, 53
Howe, Syd, 55
Howe, Vern (brother), 30, 47, 53, 194
Howe, Vic (brother), 19
Howes, Roly, 25–26
Huber, Fred, 144
Hull, Bobby, 7, 172, 181–82, 196, 216
Hull, Dennis, 182
Indianapolis Capitals, 61
injuries, 180
Irvin, Dick, 108, 118, 119, 125
Ivan, Tommy
appointed Red Wings coach, 72
changes to Production Line, 124, 125
creates Production Line, 73
desire for Gordie Howe to break Richard record, 118
effect of loss on Red Wings, 148
game tactics, 126
hockey wisdom, 5, 60, 103
leaves Red Wings, 137–38
talks to Adams about Gordie Howe’s future, 61
turns down party invitation (1954), 112
Joffa, Colleen, 86–100. See also Howe, Colleen (wife)
Junior Red Wings, 194, 195
Kaline, Al, 127–28
Kelly, Red, 73, 76, 106, 116, 124, 165
Kennedy, Teeder, 74, 76, 77, 180
Keon, Dave, 196, 216–17
King George Athletic Club, 33
Konstantinov, Vladimir, 5
Koslov, Slava, 5
Labine, Leo, 107
Lady Byng Trophy, 6, 70
Lafleur, Guy, 190
Larionov, Igor, 4, 5
Laycoe, Hal, 139
Leswick, Tony, 105, 106, 126, 127, 147
Lidstrom, Nick, 4
Lindsay, Pat, 128, 137, 154
Lindsay, Ted
attitude to Gordie Howe returning to Red Wings, 215
and auto parts business, 128
dislike of Canadiens, 125
distrust of Adams, 150
fights, 138, 139
friendship with Gordie Howe, 86, 153–54
helps Gordie Howe choose Red Wings jacket, 66
hockey advice, 165, 170
marries Pat, 111