HARTFORD, Conn. - Gordie Howe was 51 years old in 1980 (about to turn 52 in March). He had played his first professional hockey game in 1945, a stunning 35 years earlier. There was no real reason for him to suit up for the Hartford Whalers that year except to achieve the unique claim of playing professionally in five different decades.
But Howe's season with the Whalers was anything but a publicity stunt. Even at his age, Howe played all 80 games for the Whalers, scoring 15 goals while playing on a line with his son, who by then was in his ninth season of professional hockey. In fact, the elder Howe was named to the All-Star team in 1980 as he led the Whalers to a playoff appearance.
On February 29, 1980, with the Whalers hosting the St. Louis Blues, Howe added one more number to his staggering career totals. In Hartford's 3-0 win, Howe scored the 800th goal of his major professional career. The nice, round number was a fitting milestone to the most durable, versitle player in NHL history.
Howe finally retired after the 1980 season, holding the NHL records in games played, seasons played, goals (he would end with 801), and assists, among other records. While Wayne Gretzky soared past both Howe's goals and assists records (in about half the time) and several players have since passed him in assists, Howe can rest easy knowing that he'll hold the record for games played and seasons played probably forever.
Showing posts with label Hartford Whalers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hartford Whalers. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 11, 1980: Two legends skate away
HARTFORD, Conn. - It was an inauspicious way to end two glorious careers.
When Montreal beat Hartford 4-3 in overtime to complete a first-round sweep, it marked a quiet end to the Whalers' first season in the NHL. Nobody had expected the fledgling Whalers to do much against the four-time defending Stanley Cup champions, and the Whalers lived up to their expectations exactly. Normally, not a memorable occasion.
But this game was a different, as it was the final game for two of the greatest players to ever put on skates, two players who were, at the time of their retirement, ranked 1 and 2 in career goals.
Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, played his final season split between the Winnipeg Jets and the Whalers, in both teams first seasons after moving over from the WHA. The 41-year-old Hull didn't have much left, playing in only 27 games in his final season, but he did suit up for all three Whalers playoff games. He wrapped up his career with 610 NHL goals and 303 WHA goals. Those NHL numbers were good for second all-time at the time of his retirement, though he has since been passed by 13 players, including his own son.
But Hull's retirement took a back seat to that of his teammate. Gordie Howe, still playing professional hockey at age 51, played in all 83 games for the Whalers in 1979-80. Thirty-three years after starting his career as a teenager for the Red Wings, Howe still had it, scoring the final 15 of his 801 career goals (975 if WHA stats are counted) and being one of only four Whalers to play every game. Howe even got to play the season, and the previous three, with his son Mark.
Howe's career is remarkable for its longevity, and it's no surprise that he was the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer when he retired. Though his scoring stats have all been eclipsed by Wayne Gretzky, it's likely nobody will touch his record of 2,186 pro hockey games. Some other remarkable feats about Howe include 32 straight seasons of double-digit goal scoring; leading the league in games played at age 22 and again at age 41; and playing in an all-star game in five different decades.
Between them, Howe and Hull played in 35 all-star games, won 13 scoring titles, won 7 MVP awards, and won the Stanley Cup 4 times. And it all came to an end that spring day in Hartford.
When Montreal beat Hartford 4-3 in overtime to complete a first-round sweep, it marked a quiet end to the Whalers' first season in the NHL. Nobody had expected the fledgling Whalers to do much against the four-time defending Stanley Cup champions, and the Whalers lived up to their expectations exactly. Normally, not a memorable occasion.
But this game was a different, as it was the final game for two of the greatest players to ever put on skates, two players who were, at the time of their retirement, ranked 1 and 2 in career goals.
Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, played his final season split between the Winnipeg Jets and the Whalers, in both teams first seasons after moving over from the WHA. The 41-year-old Hull didn't have much left, playing in only 27 games in his final season, but he did suit up for all three Whalers playoff games. He wrapped up his career with 610 NHL goals and 303 WHA goals. Those NHL numbers were good for second all-time at the time of his retirement, though he has since been passed by 13 players, including his own son.
But Hull's retirement took a back seat to that of his teammate. Gordie Howe, still playing professional hockey at age 51, played in all 83 games for the Whalers in 1979-80. Thirty-three years after starting his career as a teenager for the Red Wings, Howe still had it, scoring the final 15 of his 801 career goals (975 if WHA stats are counted) and being one of only four Whalers to play every game. Howe even got to play the season, and the previous three, with his son Mark.
Howe's career is remarkable for its longevity, and it's no surprise that he was the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer when he retired. Though his scoring stats have all been eclipsed by Wayne Gretzky, it's likely nobody will touch his record of 2,186 pro hockey games. Some other remarkable feats about Howe include 32 straight seasons of double-digit goal scoring; leading the league in games played at age 22 and again at age 41; and playing in an all-star game in five different decades.
Between them, Howe and Hull played in 35 all-star games, won 13 scoring titles, won 7 MVP awards, and won the Stanley Cup 4 times. And it all came to an end that spring day in Hartford.
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