5 greatest moments from Gordie Howe’s career
1. Playing With His Sons
Gordie Howe accomplished things that most NHL players could only dream of achieving. Whether it’s his “Mister Hockey” title, his six Hart Trophies, or his six Art Ross Trophies, Howe’s resume consisted of countless honors. The greatest moment of Howe’s career has nothing to do with those accomplishments. It involves a distinct honor that Howe surely remembered until he passed away: he got to play with his two sons.
Despite being 51 years old, Howe signed with the Hartford Whalers for the 1979-80 NHL season. Howe chose to play for the Whalers so that he could play with his two sons Marty and Mark. The trio often played on the same forward line together. That’s an incredible honor that most players never got the opportunity to have. And Howe did it at the age of 51.
Even though Howe was 51 years old during his one NHL season with the Hartford Whalers (he spent several with them while they were the New England Whalers in the WHA), he was still able to put up some impressive numbers. While 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points might not sound impressive for that era, he did it at the age of 51 while playing in his fifth different decade in the NHL. That’s an unbelievable achievement. Gordie Howe was a legendary player, a loving father, and arguably the greatest ambassador ever for the NHL. No moment sums up all three of those distinctions more perfectly than playing with his sons for one last season.
For more NHL coverage, check out our hub page.