Remembering the man who wore number nine with nine wonderful stories from friends, admirers—and Peter Gzowski
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – MARCH 24: Gordie Howe waves to the crowd before an exhibition game of the Masters of Hockey on March 24, 1983 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) CREDIT: B Bennett/Getty Images
Sure, he had the records, and the legend, and the reputation—after all, they named a combination of a goal, an assist, and a fight after this multitalented athlete. But the things that earned Gordie Howe the mantle of “Mr. Hockey” go beyond his exploits on the ice. His gentlemanly humility, his fierce loyalty to his friends and ailing wife, and his tremendous kindnesses—a sharp contrast to his sharp-elbowed play in five decades’ worth of rinks—made him transcendent.
As Canada and “Hockeytown” Detroit mourn the loss of Howe, who died on Friday at the age of 88, here are nine must-reads from Maclean’s, our archives, and beyond—in honour of the number he wore on his back, and the man inside the jersey.
How a man who can’t skate became best friends with Gordie Howe
Gordie Roberts remembers a man who inspired his name—and later, his teammate
From one legend to another: Peter Gzowski’s 1963 Maclean’s profile of Gordie Howe
Goaltender John Garrett’s moment on the wrong side of Gordie Howe scoring history
Charlie Gillis on why the 1968-69 season was the year that made Gordie Howe
From Maclean’s in 1966: Howe returns to his native Saskatchewan for Gordie Howe Day
The many ways we’ll remember Gordie Howe
Stephen Brunt on the intergenerational appeal of Gordie Howe
Searching for traces of Mr. Hockey in “Hockeytown” Detroit