He is remembered as an icon, a legend, and one of the greatest to ever play the game. Gordie Howe left a lasting impression on anybody that ever got to see him play. Right now, he’s fighting for his life as his health has taken a turn for the worse. While he’s in the fight of his life, let’s send him some positives vibes by recalling his five most memorable Gordie Howe moments.
5. The Gordie Howe Hat Trick
The “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” is the term used to indicate that a player has a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. Ironically, this only happened in a single game for Howe, according to the NHL records. Howe played more than 2,000 games but only once, on Dec. 22, 1955, did he actually record a goal, assist, and a fight in the same game.
4. Mr. All-Star
When Mr. Hockey skated in the 1980 All-Star game it marked the 23rd time in his career that he played in the event, which is four more times than Ray Bourque. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux scored more goals and more points in All-Star game competition than the 10 and 19 that Howe recorded over the course of his career. The fact that Howe managed to play hockey in three different decades is that much more impressive when you consider the All-Star level he played out throughout his career.
3. Howe Returns To Win First Scoring Title
On March 28, 1950, Howe was on the ice for the Red Wings’ opening game of the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He missed a check on Ted Kennedy and crashed in to the boards head first. Howe was knocked unconscious and suffered a fractured skull on the play that required him to have emergency surgery and there was a legitimate fear he would never play hockey again. Howe returned the following season and led the NHL in scoring by 20 points to win the first of four-straight scoring titles.
2. Howe’s First Stanley Cup
Considering he is a six-time MVP it would be difficult to pick out only one season as Howe’s best of all-time. However, none was more spectacular then in 1951-52 when he led the NHL with 47 goals and 86 points and helped the Red Wings sweep the Montreal Canadiens to win his first Stanley Cup back in 1951-52. Howe went on to win four Stanley Cups but the dominance he displayed en route to that initial championship stands out as arguably his greatest season of all-time.
1. Howe’s Final NHL Game
Howe’s incredible longevity is arguably the most impressive aspect of his amazing career and when he left the ice for the final time on April 11, 1980 it marked the end of a career that spanned more than three decades. Howe was 52 years old when he retired and his list of accomplishments include four Stanley Cups, six Art Ross trophies, six Hart Memorial trophies, and 23 All-Star game appearances. Howe is the only player to play an NHL game past the age of 50.
Eventually, he was ranked No. 3 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players of all-time and the highest-ranking right winger but even then at the time of his final game hockey fans knew that he was one of the best of all-time.
