Gordie Howe (original) (raw)

Gordie Howe (born March 31, 1928) is a Canadian ice hockey player who is often referred to as "Mr. Hockey."

Born Gordon Howe in Floral, Saskatchewan, he made his professional debut in 1946 at the age of 18, playing the right wing position for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. He quickly established himself as a great goal scorer and a gifted playmaker. Using his great physical strength, he was able to dominate the opposition in a career that spanned five decades. In a feat unsurpassed by any athlete, in any sport, Gordie Howe finished in the top 5 in scoring for 20 straight seasons.

Howe led Detroit to four Stanley Cups during his tenure as a Red Wing. After 25 years, a wrist problem forced him to retire, but a year later he was offered a contract to play with the Houston Aeros of the newly formed World Hockey Association. An operation to improve his wrist made a return to ice hockey possible and he led his new team to consecutive championships. In 1974, at the age of 46, Gordie Howe was selected as the WHA's most valuable player.

When the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, the 51-year-old Howe signed with the Hartford Whalers for one final season, competing in all 80 games of the schedule. Another milestone in a remarkable career was reached in 1997 when Gordie Howe played professional hockey in a sixth decade. He was signed to a one-game contract by the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League and, almost 70 years old, made a stirring return to the ice for one shift.

His most productive seasons came during an era when scoring was difficult and checking was tight, yet Gordie Howe ranks second in NHL history with 2,110 total points made up of 869 goals and 1,141 assists. Careerwise, when his goals and assists from both the NHL and the WHA are combined, he ranks first in goals with 975.

His achievements:

Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM Playoffs GP Playoffs G Playoffs A Playoffs Pts Playoffs PIM
1945-46 Omaha Knights USHL 51 22 26 48 53 6 2 1 3 15
1946-47 Detroit Red Wings NHL 58 7 15 22 52 5 0 0 0 18
1947-48 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 16 28 44 63 10 1 1 2 11
1948-49 Detroit Red Wings NHL 40 12 25 37 57 11 8 3 11 19
1949-50 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 35 33 68 69 1 0 0 0 7
1950-51 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 43 43 86 74 6 4 3 7 4
1951-52 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 47 39 86 78 8 2 5 7 2
1952-53 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 49 46 95 57 6 2 5 7 2
1953-54 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 33 48 81 109 12 4 5 9 31
1954-55 Detroit Red Wings NHL 64 29 33 62 68 11 9 11 20 24
1955-56 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 38 41 79 100 10 3 9 12 8
1956-57 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 44 45 89 72 5 2 5 7 6
1957-58 Detroit Red Wings NHL 64 33 44 77 40 4 1 1 2 0
1958-59 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 32 46 78 57 -- -- -- -- --
1959-60 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 28 45 73 46 6 1 5 6 4
1960-61 Detroit Red Wings NHL 64 23 49 72 30 11 4 11 15 10
1961-62 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 33 44 77 54 -- -- -- -- --
1962-63 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 38 48 86 100 11 7 9 16 22
1963-64 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 26 47 73 70 14 9 10 19 16
1964-65 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 29 47 76 104 7 4 2 6 20
1965-66 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 29 46 75 83 12 4 6 10 12
1966-67 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 25 40 65 53 -- -- -- -- --
1967-68 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74 39 43 82 53 -- -- -- -- --
1968-69 Detroit Red Wings NHL 76 44 59 103 58 -- -- -- -- --
1969-70 Detroit Red Wings NHL 76 31 40 71 58 4 2 0 2 2
1970-71 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 23 29 52 38 -- -- -- -- --
1973-74 Houston Aeros WHA 70 31 69 100 46 13 3 14 17 34
1974-75 Houston Aeros WHA 75 34 65 99 84 13 8 12 20 20
1975-76 Houston Aeros WHA 78 32 70 102 76 17 4 8 12 31
1976-77 Houston Aeros WHA 62 24 44 68 57 11 5 3 8 11
1977-78 New England Whalers WHA 76 34 62 96 85 14 5 5 10 15
1978-79 New England Whalers WHA 58 19 24 43 51 10 3 1 4 4
1979-80 Hartford Whalers NHL 80 15 26 41 42 3 1 1 2 2
1997-98 Detroit Vipers IHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --