Mr. Hockey My Story (31 page)
Read Mr. Hockey My Story Online
Authors: Gordie Howe
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A
wards
Art Ross Trophy | 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1962–63 (NHL leading scorer) |
First All-Star Team Right Wing | 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 |
Hart Memorial Trophy | 1951–52, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1962-63 (MVP of the NHL) |
Lester Patrick Trophy | 1966–67 (presented for outstanding service to hockey in the United States ) |
Second All-Star Team Right Wing | 1948–49, 1949–50, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67 |
Order of Canada | 1971 |
Gary L. Davidson Trophy | 1972 (MVP of the WHA) |
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame | 1972 |
NHL Lifetime Achievement Award | 2008 (inaugural recipient) |
Inducted into the WHA Hall of Fame | 2010 (as a member of the Howe family) |
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I
owe a debt of gratitude to a number of people without whom this book would have stayed on the drawing board. My children, of course, always come first. Marty, Mark, Cathy, and Murray, thank you for making this project possible, as well as being the best kids anyone could ask for. As ever, I’d also like to thank my wife, Colleen, who brought so much happiness to my life in more than fifty years of marriage. I miss you, honey.
I’d also like to thank my parents, Albert and Katherine. So much of who I am, I owe to them.
This would be incomplete without a special thank you to a few people that should be acknowledged. Bill and Edna Gadsby have been life friends to Colleen and me. I still cherish their friendship in good times and sad. Ron Toigo and his family have been like extended family, and we look forward to our trips to Vancouver. Thanks too to Bill Dineen, who believed in me and brought Marty, Mark and myself to the Houston Aeros and fulfilled my dream of playing pro hockey alongside my sons.
I would like to thank Felix and Reta Gatt for everything. Felix has been so helpful to me and my family. A more positive person you’ll never meet. Finally, Bob Philpot and family. I have been fishing with Bob, his grandfather, father and friends since the 50s. What wonderful people.
The coaches and teachers I’ve had over the years also deserve a special thank you. Without their support, kids like me would never make it to the NHL.
A sincere thanks goes to Paul Haavardsrud, who helped to take the thoughts in my head and put them down on paper. I appreciate the dedication, skill, and hard work it took to bring my story to these pages. This book also wouldn’t have happened without Nick Garrison and his team at Penguin. Without his determination and expertise this project would have remained an idea instead of becoming a reality.
Finally I would like to offer a thank you to all the hockey fans I have encountered while at the arena but more so in my everyday walk of life. Whether at the rink, a public appearance, crossing paths at an airport, or just a brief encounter while having breakfast at the local diner, every interaction brings a warmth and kindness with it. I thank you all for the kind words, the smiles, hugs and laughter. Hopefully I have enriched your lives as much as you have enriched mine.
I
NDEX
The page numbers in this index refer to the printed version of this book. The link provided will take you to the beginning of that print page. You may need to scroll forward from that location to find the corresponding reference on your e-reader.
Abel, Sid,
86
advice to Gordie Howe,
69
as Black Hawks coach,
124
and Gordie Howe’s first NHL game,
68
,
69
meets Gordie Howe as child,
72
as part of Production LIne,
73
,
76
,
105
as player-coach with Black Hawks,
110
as Red Wings coach,
172
scoring and assist statistics (1949–50),
76
talent of,
82
as victim of NHL changes,
137
,
148
wins Hart Trophy,
75
Adams, Helen,
112
Adams, Jack
and birth of Marty Howe,
122
–23
coaching style,
103
comments on Gordie Howe’s shooting ability,
34
concerns about Gordie Howe fights,
70
,
71
and contracts,
65
,
66
contract signing,
65
discusses Gordie Howe’s future with Ivan,
61
and early Red Wings,
102
–3
fired by B. Norris,
172
funeral,
144
and Gordie Howe and Red Wings junior club,
55
,
56
,
57
and Gordie Howe’s first NHL game,
67
hires Ivan,
72
personality,
115
–16,
144
,
145
and player accommodation,
64
and players’ personal lives,
111
,
112
,
126
–37
power and control of,
111
–12,
113
,
115
–16,
123
–24,
128
–29,
143
–44
prohibits Gordie Howe’s baseball playing,
22
promise of Red Wings jacket,
55
,
57
,
58
–59,
66
–67
reacts to players’ association,
152
relationship with Gordie Howe,
116
,
149
relationship with Norris,
146
social life,
112
–13
success of,
146
temper,
116
,
123
,
155
trades,
104
,
105
,
110
–11,
117
,
124
,
138
,
143
–44,
147
–48
trading philosophy,
103
in training camp,
112
unpredictability of,
68
Agnew, Spiro,
198
Ak-Sar-Ben.
See
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
Alcott, Joe,
182
Ali, Muhammad,
187
All-Star Game (1948),
71
All-Star Game (1980),
217
All-Star Games,
76
All-Star Team,
150
American Hockey League,
61
Apps, Syl,
74
Arthritis Foundation,
195
Art Ross Trophy,
89
,
124
,
173
,
232
Auerbach, Red,
109
Baldwin, Howard,
215
Ballard, Harold,
217
Barilko, Bill,
89
Baseball Hall of Fame,
128
Baun, Bobby,
187
–88
Bentley, Max,
42
–43
Blackburn, Don,
216
Bonin, Marcel,
147
Bossy, Mike,
69
Boston Bruins
playoffs of 1953,
119
Boucher, Frank,
51
Bowman, Scotty,
217
Brewer, Carl,
188
Brimsek, Frank,
68
–69
Brown, Bobby,
209