Gordie Howe - Tribute by Moses

  Gordie Howe was born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada. Gordie was, and is, the greatest right-winger of all-time.  As a strapping youngster with the Detroit Red Wings in 1946-47 (at the young age of 18), Howe was a giant to his peers.  At 6 Foot 2 205 lbs, Howe could manhandle pretty much anyone in the game when he played.  A Gordie Howe shoulder usually meant that the opposing player took an elbow to the head (based on height differential).  

  Playing alongside Sid Abel, Ted Lindsey, and legendary goalie Terry Sawchuk, Mr. Hockey won the coveted Stanley Cup four times with the Red Wings of the late 40's - mid-fifties.

  When Lindsey and Doug Harvey (among others) started the National Hockey League Players Association Union, some of the initiators of the Players Association were 'blacklisted' by the NHL Owners.  Ted Lindsey ended up being shipped to the Chicago Black Hawks (as the Norris brothers owned each the Detroit Red Wings AND the Chicago Black Hawks, and punished Lindsey for his role in the procreation of the NHLPA shipping him to the weaker team).  This ended up costing the Red Wings their chemistry.   

  The reality in 1955 to an NHL'er was that you had a good paying job, one in which you could earn what an Accountant earned.  Certainly not as much as a Doctor or a Lawyer could.  The NHLPA paved the way for the salaries and collective bargaining we see today between the NHLPA and the Owners (represented by the Commissioner).

  Mr. Hockey was then paired with Alex Delvecchio, after Sid Abel's retirement from the NHL.  Delvecchio was a fine center in his own right for the end of the fifties to the end of the sixties.  Although Howe never won the Stanley Cup with Alex he still revered him as one of the greatest center-men of his day.  When the dust settled (up until Gordie's WHA days), Howe managed to tally 786 goals (at the end of the 70-71 season).  Gordie Howe was respected during this time, as a player who would be held in awe (even though no-one realized at the time that his retirement from the game was short lived).

  The fact was that this wasn't even close to being the end of Howe's playing days, he in fact was a starter for the next 7 years (retiring from the game after the 1979-80 campaign with the Hartford Whalers).

  Gordie resurfaced with the rival World Hockey Association Houston Aeros and became one the their first superstar signings.  This led to Howe having an MVP year in 1973-74.  In his six years in the WHA Howe was productive each year, capping 100 points in a year twice.  When Mr. Hockey started out with the Houston Aeros he teamed with his sons' Mark and Marty, and they became the first Father/Son(s) combo in WHA history - or any professional hockey league for that matter.  When all three surfaced in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80 they became the first Father/Son(s) in NHL History.  In fact Gordie Howe is the only Professional Hockey Players in the NHL or any League Worldwide to have played in 5 different decades.

  I met Mr. Hockey in 1999 with my Cousin Dr. Brian Kaufman at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.  He was giving away his autobiography (also signing the book and taking photos and signing an autographed photo with himself).  When it was our turn to take a picture with Mr. Howe the lens broke and I had a couple of minutes' alongside my Cousin and Mr. Hockey.  I asked Mr. Howe 'Who is the most tenacious hockey player you ever played with or against ? '.  He replied 'Dicky Duff.'  I looked it up a few days later, sure enough Dicky Duff was a team-mate of Howe's with the Red Wings in the 50's and was likewise a rival playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.  A few years later the veterans committee of the Hockey Hall of Fame voted Dicky Duff into the Hall.  I always thought that it was Howe's voice' that was heard the loudest regarding Duff's exploits on the ice.    

  Mr. Hockey is recognized with awe and Legend that is truly deserved.  He could out muscle anyone on the puck, he could pass the puck from tape to tape, shoot it with authority, and out-skate the opponent to boot.
  The game was shaped due to his accomplishments, leading an announcer to become enthralled when a players scores a goal, has an assist, and gets into a fight in the same game- who then gives the 'Gordie Howe Hat-trick' announcement to praise the player for his accomplishment.

  When all was said and done, Howe amassed 801 NHL Goals, 1049 NHL Assists, 1850 NHL Points, 975 Career Goals, 1383 Career Assists, and 2358 Career Points (including his days in the WHA).  He led all playoff scorers in individual years six times, had 68 NHL Playoff Goals (96 inc. WHA) 92 NHL Playoff Assists (135 inc. WHA), and had 160 NHL Playoff Points (231 inc. WHA).  Howe was 1st Line RW in the NHL twelve times (and was named 1st Line RW twice in the WHA).  He won 6 Hart Trophies, 6 Art Ross Trophies, and led the NHL in Goals (now called the 'Rocket' Richard Trophy) 4 times.

  One of the proudest Hockey Families of all-time, the Howe brothers Gordie and Vic, and Gordie's sons Mark and Marty, have been immortalized as icons of a game that is hard to master, doing so with grace and grit.

  R.I.P Gordie Howe #9

100 Greatest Centermen of All-Time - by Moses

1.       Wayne Gretzky

2.       Mario Lemieux

3.       Steve Yzerman

4.       Jean Beliveau

5.       Mark Messier

6.       Peter Stastny

7.       Howie Morenz

8.       Marcel Dionne

9.       Bobby Clarke

10.    Brian Trottier

11.    Phil Esposito

12.    Milt Schmidt

13.    Ron Francis

14.    Sidney Crosby

15.    Gilbert Perreault

16.    Dale Hawerchuck

17.    Joe Sakic

18.    Valari Kharmalov 

19.    Doug Gilmour 

20.    Pat LaFontaine

21.    Jacques Lemaire 

22.    Denis Savard

23.    Mats Sundin

24.    Stan Mikita

25.    Peter Forsberg

26.    Joe Primeau

27.    Pavel Datsyuk

28.    Max Bentley

29.    Joe Malone 

30.    Newsy Lalonde 

31.    Syl Apps

32.    Jonathan Toews

33.    Steven Stamkos

34.    Darryl Sittler

35.    Jeremy Roenick

36.    Evgeni Malkin

37.    Sergei Fedorov

38.    Boris Mikhailov 

39.    Anatoli Firsov

40.    Mike Modano

41.    Bernie Nichols

42.    Kent Nilsson

43.    Adam Oates

44.    Eric Lindros

45.    Pierre Turgeon

46.    Henri Richard

47.    Norm Ullman

48.    Joe Nieuwendyk

49.    Vincent Lecavalier

50.    Henrik Sedin

51.    Dave Keon

52.    Joe Thornton

53.    Frank Nighbor

54.    Bernie Federko

55.    Bobby Smith

56.    Eric Staal

57.    Dennis Maruk  

58.    Jean Ratelle

59.    John Tavares

60.    Nicklas Backstrom

61.    Alex Delvecchio

62.    Ryan Getzlaf

63.    Mike Rogers

64.    Ulf Nilsson

65.    Red Kelly 

66.    Jason Spezza

67.    Igor Larionov

68.    Peter Mahovlich

69.    Neal Broten

70.    Garry Unger

71.    Ken Linseman

72.    Tyler Seguin

73.    Connor McDavid

74.    Claude Giroux

75.    Patrick Marleau

76.    Alexei Yashin

77.    Rod Brind'Amour

78.    Pierre Larouche

79.    Craig Janney

80.    Peter McNab

81.    Barry Pederson

82.    Elmer Lach

83.    Rick MacLeish

84.    Butch Goring  

85.    Guy Chouinard

86.    Tom Lysiak

87.    Red Berenson

88.    Keith Primeau

89.    Ivan Boldirev

90.    Thomas Steen

91.    Jeff Carter

92.    Mike Richards

93.    Cliff Ronning

94.    Chris Drury

95.    Thomas Gradin  

96.    Robbie Ftorek

97.    Doug Jarvis

98.    Guy Carbonneau

99.    Brad Richards

100.  Jason Arnott    

100.  Auston Matthews

100.  Syl Apps Jr.

       

Pat Burns

      A model family man, a man who Coached at the highest level and achieved the greatest accomplishments, a man who battled Cancer for five years and lost in the end, will forever be remembered synonomous to the game of Hockey. Pat Burns was more than a Stanley Cup winning Hockey Coach.  A tough, street smart, former Officer of the Law, Pat Burns began a career in Coaching in the late 80's. As a former 'Street Cop' in Montreal, it was only fitting for Burns to start his Coaching career as tutor to the famous 'Les Habitants', guiding the Habs to the Cup Finals in his rookie Coaching season of 1988/89. Pat Burns moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992 and, neigh a missed call by Kerry Fraser, still managed to guide the Maple Leafs to consecutive Semi-Final appearances in 92/93 and 93/94 thus resurrecting a proud organization. Having a strong showing in the two biggest Canadian (and Worldwide) Hockey Markets, Pat Burns moved to the Boston Bruins Chain where he again came close to guiding his Team to the promised land, a sip from the Stanley Cup. This earned Coach Burns the accolades and distinction of being the only Head Coach in Hockey to ever win the Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) Award with three different organizations. When Lou Lamorillo brought Burns to the New Jersey Devils in 2002/03 it was finally due calling when the Devils won the Cup (ironically Burns didn’t win the Jack Adams Award the year he won his first and only Stanley Cup).

  These accomplishments must be attributed to Pat Burns philosophy on life; hard work, honesty and integrity breeding success. Working to achieve, and always remembering that hard work rewards. Many would say these are obvious traits of success, yet how many of us walk the walk. It was Pat Burns’ work ethic that added character to every organization he was ever associated with, and his 'blue collar' ideology from his years on the Police Force in Montreal earned Burns the respect of the Hockey World and sports fans in general. It was painful for many to see Pat Burns failing health. He didn't deserve an early exit from this World after having dedicated his entire life to the shaping of those around him to maximize their potential, and achieve at levels they didn't know they had in them. It will serve as a humbling to most Canadians, to the level and awe at which Terry Fox is remembered. It's not the success I'm referring to it's the fortitude that Burns brought out in people he counseled and Coached. The feeling we all had when watching a Pat Burns' Coached Hockey Team, that of people who gave it their all.

Curtis Joseph

       A man who has never won the prized Stanley Cup yet won an incredible 454 Games throughout his storied career.  Measuring success for Joseph should not be based on the prized cup.

  For years, playing for underachieving teams, Curtis Joseph stood on his head advancing his teams to win after win.  Starting his career with the St. Louis Blues, Cujo was well renowned as a shining star.  The Blues made the playoffs most years he was with them.  Once Joseph made a move to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs (originally from Keswick, Ontario), he performed admirably, guiding us to two Semi-Final appearances alongside Mats Sundin.  In fact, without his performance, the Leafs were a borderline playoff team.  With Joseph and Sundins’ guidance the Leafs were respected throughout the League as a play-off force.

  Moving to the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, Curtis looked poised to capture his first Stanley Cup ring.  It didn’t happen.  In Joseph’s’ last years in the NHL he still pulled off two decent seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes (then sent his taillights fading in Calgary with the Flames before retiring after about 20 games back in Toronto with the Maple Leafs).  Joseph has become sidestepped as one of the best Goalies in the game.  This has been a common occurrence for Cujo.  In making the Canadian Olympic Team twice, Cujo was awarded one start.  Make no mistake though, in the Hockey Community there was no peer, no other active Goaltender of his time, neigh Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek, and Martin Brodeur with the statistics Curtis Joseph put up.  He will surely be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible in the Hall of Fame Voting. 

  Keep this in mind when thinking of Cujo; a lifetime save % of .906, 454 wins at the end of his fine career and 51 lifetime shutouts.  Without Joseph his teams the year following year declined in just about every instance aside from his Red Wings’ days.  Number 31 is a marquee professional, in every sense and a hero to children aspiring to take the game to the next level’ in making Pro.

  Aside from Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur there was no other clear-cut choice in his era to start a big game than Joseph.