The Legacy of Gordie Howe aka, “Mr. Hockey”

Gordie HoweThe cold weather is here, and so is hockey season. The beloved winter sport is in full swing and if you plan on attending any games then you will get a treat when you walk into the Joe Louis Arena. The facility is home to a few bronze artistic renderings of several NHL Hall of Fame members made by artists at Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt & Amrany. Among these legends is “Mr. Hockey” himself, Gordie Howe.

Gordie Howe was born in Canada in 1928 and is still alive today. He was a player in the NHL for over five decades, first officially playing for the league as a Detroit Red Wing in 1946. During his time as a Red Wing, he brought the team to four Stanley Cup championships. He was known not only for his high score stats, but also for his propensity for starting fights in the game. During the prime of his career, the checks were not as regulated as they are now, and it was during one attempted check that Gordie Howe received an injury that almost ended his career. After recovering from a severe skull fracture, he came back with a bang, shooting to superstar status.

One major advantage Howe had over players was the fact that he was an ambidextrous shooter…he could sink a punk from the left or the right. This is a skill that is very rarely seen in the sport.

Gordie Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. When permanent retirement loomed on the horizon for Howe, his savvy wife convinced him to step back out on the ice to play alongside their sons with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association…another first for the sport. He was one of the top scoring players for the team and finally retired in 1980. He has countless awards, almost unbeatable records, and several awards and buildings named after him and now he is immortalized in the home of his original NHL team.

The statue was designed by Omri Amrany from Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt & Amrany. The in-motion appearing likeness of Gordie Howe is 6 feet 4 inches from ice to the top of his head and the base he stands on weighs over 3,000 pounds. Stop by the Joe Louis Arena and see the tribute to “Mr. Hockey”.