Gordie Howe
Athlete (1986)
Hockey
A native of Saskatoon (he was born in nearby Floral), Gordie played minor hockey in Saskatoon until he was 16. When he was 15, he was invited to the New York Rangers camp. The following year he went to the Detroit Red Wings camp and was sent to the junior team, the Galt Red Wings. Due to eligibility rules he was only allowed to practice. In 1944-45, he turned professional with Omaha, then moved up to Detroit the following season. He played 25 years with the Red Wings followed by six years in the WHA and one more NHL year with New England.
His NHL totals include 1,767 games played, 801 goals, 1,049 assists and 1,850 points. He picked up another 508 points in the WHA. Six times he won the Hart Trophy (most valuable) and also the Art Ross Trophy (top scorer). Howe was selected 21 times on either the first or second All-Star Team. A proficient golfer, Gordie also excelled in baseball and softball. He was named the Canadian male athlete of the year in 1963. Gordie Howe Park was named in his honour.
He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.
** Deceased
" My dad bought our first radio when I was six or seven. I can still hear Foster Hewitt’s voice coming into our home on a Saturday night. When Hewitt would deliver his trademark ‘He shoots, he scores!’ I’d imagine he was calling a goal scored by Gordie Howe. Kids all over the country probably had the same dream. Sometimes I shake my head at the fact that mine actually came true. " -- Gordie Howe played in the NHL for 26 seasons