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Gordie Howe Is The Greatest Of Them All
by Paul on 11/06/07 at 09:28 PM ET
Comments (8)
Since Joe Pelletier asked, here are my memories of Gordie Howe…
Almost 44 years ago to the day (November 10th), I was there.
I witnessed Gordie Howe break the goal scoring record when he ripped a wrister against Montreal goaltender Charlie Hodge for goal #545. The old Olympia shook from the foundations, a standing-O for what seemed like an eternity, it would build, die down a bit, then build once again.
I cried, why, because I too was relieved of the pressure Gordie was feeling. He had gone scoreless for about six games and even his shoulders were starting to feel the burden.
I remember looking up in the rafters before the game, the Wings had tons of balloons up there, hoping to release them onto the ice if Gordie scored. Well, released they did, but about half of them had deflated, and they rained down on the ice like a wounded duck. It didn’t matter, fans started tossing anything they could, cups, hats, food, even a few pairs of shoes.
I shudder whenever I think of that day so let’s take a stroll down memory lane…
The first video, make sure to stop it at the 55 second mark, one of the rare pictures taken after Gordie had his way with Lou Fontinato of the NY Rangers. Shortly after the 55 second mark, you will see Gordie’s record breaking goal.
The second vid, well actually a recording, just go back in time a bit and listen…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: detroit+red+wings, Gordie+Howe,
Comments
All Hail the Howe. He’s the best there ever has been and the best there ever will be. Number 1A, BTW, is Steve Yzerman.
Posted by John Fournier from Austin, TX on 11/06/07 at 11:35 PM ET
Thanks for sharing your memory Paul!!!!
Gordie, well he is an immortal, and the Wings should be damn grateful to account him as one of their own. Gordie is one of the main reasons that the organization is so steeped in tradition, and in a salary cap world, you have to market everything to draw top players. And have you noticed, and I’m sure you have, that the “new” players all talk about the Wing’s tradition. Yep, the Wings are damn lucky to have Gordie. He is Detroit hockey.
I only made it to Olympia for one game and was, at that time, too young to remember anything much—other than that old barn seemed to ooze history!!
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/07/07 at 08:45 AM ET
Outstanding Paul…..man I loved Gordie, he’ll always be my hero….
Posted by Bob from Ontario on 11/07/07 at 04:41 PM ET
I played in the old Windsor (Ont.) Hickey League in the late 1930’s and grew up and old watching the Wings play in the late 1940’s and 50’s at the Olympia in Detroit. I was a great fan to my idol, #9, Gordie Howe. His pairing with Ted Lindsey and Sid Abel in the Production Line was pure magic. The classic games against the Canadians and Leafs always left one exhausted and excitement spent. With only six teams in the league, the talent and skating was deeper and more versitile…and remory is that the games were “cleaner” though still physical.
Posted by Clark Slayman from Winter Park, Florida on 11/28/07 at 11:28 PM ET
I was lucky enough to have seen Mr. Howe tie and then break Rocket Richard’s record on successive Sunday nights against the Canadiens. Me And my friend Mike went to the game when Gordie tied the record, and never thought in a million years we would have the chance to go again the next Sunday and see him break the record. The reason being there were 2 or 3 away games that week, and we just knew Gordie would get that tie-breaker at an away game. So when he hadn’t got it we just knew that we had to be there. We only could get SRO tickets, but we were in the ‘Old Barn’ that night and were afraid it might just cave in around us, the crowd made so much noise jumping up and down stomping thier feet, it was wonderful. Somewhere around here I still have those ticket stubs squirreled away.
Posted by Rick Johnson from Northville, Michigan on 04/06/08 at 08:19 AM ET
Thanks for the memories Rick. I was there too and it will always be a cherished moment for me.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/06/08 at 08:23 AM ET
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My favorite Howe stat? Top 10 in NHL scoring for something like 21 straight seasons (49-50 through 69-70). And all along the way, the toughest SOB on the ice.
Posted by The Forechecker from Tennessee on 11/06/07 at 10:35 PM ET