Mr. Hockey

Growing up, sports were a regular part of daily life in our household, especially hockey. My father, Joe “Bomber,” grew up in the 1930s and 40s in an age before television and video games. Hockey was a quintessential part of his childhood and youth, and he spent countless hours playing the game he loved on the frozen Morell River or on the open air rink in the centre of the village.

He passed this love of the game onto his two sons, Joe jr. and Mike. They were both involved in minor hockey from the time they could barely skate until their teenage years. Even before they were part of organized hockey, they had caught “hockey fever.” Our father helped them make hockey gear for their teddy bears out of old cereal boxes. A piece of rolled up tinfoil became the puck. In those early years, they could often be found playing teddy hockey in the wee hours of the morning in the hallway of our small, rural home.

Hockey Night in Canada was a Saturday night staple in our house, and more often than not, the entire family could be found sitting around the livingroom with the game on. Unlike most hockey fans, my father never really had a favourite team. Instead, he had a string of favourite players throughout the years and cheered for whatever team they played for. Some of his favourites included Wayne Gretzky, Morell native, Al MacAdam, and current favourite, Connor McDavid. Back in the 1950s and 60s, however, that favourite player was Gordie Howe.

Being close to the same age, Joe had followed Howe from the start of his career. He liked Howe’s gritty, aggressive style and the fact that he never backed down from a fight. Joe’s own style on the ice was very similar. He also liked the fact that Howe could shoot both ways. This made him a dangerous player to play against and an exciting player to watch.

In the late 1960s, Joe had a chance to meet his hero and expose his young sons to hockey royalty. Morell was hosting its annual Sportsman’s Dinner and although Howe was not booked to speak at it, he was on the Island for another event. Word on the street was that Howe may make a guest appearance in Morell. Joe didn’t have tickets for the dinner, but he decided to take a gamble and headed out the door with the boys in tow with the hopes of catching a glimpse of Gordie Howe.

It was a rainy, miserable evening, but they toughed it out, waiting in the parking lot, hoping to meet the famous star. Finally, a big, shiny car pulled into the parking lot. Joe walked over to the vehicle and opened the door for his hockey hero. Mike was wearing a t-shirt that said, “sock it to me,” and Howe reached out and playfully punched him in the stomach. They got to spend a few uninterrupted minutes with Howe, chatting and getting autographs, before he headed inside.

That meeting lasted only a few minutes, but it left a big impression. It cemented Joe’s admiration of Howe, both on and off the ice. Santa Claus must have been a Gordie Howe fan back then too, as that Christmas the boys received matching hockey gear complete with Detroit Red Wings jerseys. My father had not only passed on his love of the game to his two boys, but also his love of Gordie Howe. Two new fans were born.

It all came full circle for my father many years later when Howe was once again in the province for a speaking engagement and book tour. Mike, now grown and with his own fishing fleet, had been entrusted to take Howe out for a sail and some recreational fishing. This set the stage for my father to meet Howe for a second time. The two men were both now in their 70s, and they spent their time together chatting about life and the game they both loved.

During those two encounters, Gordie Howe lived up to his nickname as “Mr. Hockey.” He was as engaging off the ice as he was on it. He made my father feel that not only was he rubbing shoulders with a hockey legend, but that he was also meeting a fellow Canadian boy from a small town who loved the game of hockey.