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How many Gordie Howe hat tricks—one goal, one assist and winning one fight in the same game—did you score in your lifetime?
Quite a few. I had a temper.
You needed 500 stitches during your career. How did you get them all?
I blame myself. I was taught to put a lot of weight on my stick, so I’d lean on it. In order for a player to hook my stick off the puck, they would use a lot of strength. When they’d get ready to pull up my stick, I’d pull it out of the way, and their blade would hit me in the face. It would’ve been prevented if I left my stick where it was. About 300 of my stitches were mistakes.
If you could bring something back from your early days in hockey and inject it into today’s game, what would it be?
The referees used to run the game pretty well. You used to be able to take people out. Now it’s a no-touch situation. I don’t think some of the players like it, and it really puts a burden on the defense when you can’t take somebody out near the net. I’ve always said if someone is 15 feet in front of the net and you can’t touch or hold onto him, he’ll wind up and shoot 95 mph! The goaltender won’t even move until the puck is already in the net. When you see a great save like that, the goaltender is guessing.
What does it take to be tough?
You’ve got to love what you are doing and be able to take punishment. It takes strength. My dream was to be a pro hockey player, so at 14 I took a construction job lifting concrete slabs that were 96 pounds. I’d carry two at a time. After I was done, my dad would tell me to go drink a quart of milk. Then, I’d shovel eight to 12 yards of gravel. I did whatever it took.
What effect do you think huge salaries are having on the game today?
It sure doesn’t bother the players,
but it bothers me. I wish I could have gotten some of that! My salary when I went to the Omaha Knights in 1945 was $2,350 plus $50 for signing. Whenever there would be a banquet, that meant a free meal and maybe a coat or a sweater. My wardrobe was everything I got from banquets. The $3 or $4 that I’d get during the banquet dinner I would put in a glass jar. I’d send money to my parents come Christmastime. The house that my mom and dad lived in didn’t have a furnace. They would put a log or coal on and hope it burned long enough to keep them warm until morning. I ended up putting a furnace and running water in the house.
Do you wonder how large of a contract you could have if you played today?
I don’t worry about that. I was lucky that my two boys, Mark and Marty, got in while the salaries were good. I noticed their homes are nicer and bigger than mine. The players who came before me made even less. It’s nice to know we were all, in part, responsible for some of the huge salaries players get today.
You retired at age 43, but decided to come back two years later to play until you were 52. Why?
I retired because of injuries. The fun of the game left me. But it had always been a dream to play pro hockey with my boys. As much fun and as honored as I was to play in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, I had more fun playing with my boys from 1973 to 1980.
How often did you play injured?
All the time! One night I broke my foot. I couldn’t stand. I stuck the foot in ice so I could hardly feel it anymore. I gave it a little freezing. Once I got my skate back on, it hurt, but not that bad. My knees are now gone. I lost the cartilage in both of them and had minor operations. I essentially had both knees removed. If your injuries are going to leave you a crippled man, then it’s time to call it quits.
Didn’t you ever sit out?
Management told me to do that and I said forget it. I work like hell to get ready for a game, so there’s no way I’m not playing. One time I ran into an open gate and broke a couple ribs. When they bandaged me up, I couldn’t breathe. They told me to take the night off then and I still ended up playing. Another time, my left wrist was really whacked, because they had to remove the bone from it. They put me back out on the ice with a leather cast on it. I couldn’t even shoot the puck. The only time I didn’t like to play injured is if the fans weren’t aware of it. I don’t care if the opposing players are all coming after me because I have an injury. At least let the fans know that I’m injured but still giving 100 percent. There are 15,000 people in the seats. I’d rather have them as friends than the six I have to worry about when I’m on the ice. |
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