Gordie Howe left a lasting impression on his opponents and an indelible mark on the hockey world. His sheer skill, brute power and unparalleled longevity made him one of the greatest hockey players ever.
As he celebrates his 80th birthday Monday, we take a look at 10 of Howe's most distinguished moments.
10. Toughness
As much as Howe is remembered for his scoring touch, he is widely considered one of the toughest players to skate in the NHL. He entered the league a hulking 6-foot-1, 205-pound teenager in an era that most players were much smaller; he left the league a grandfather who had collected his share of war wounds. In 32 seasons of professional hockey, Howe received more than 300 stitches and suffered damaged knee cartilage, broken ribs, a broken wrist, several broken toes, a dislocated shoulder and a fractured skull. Howe's ability to endure pain was matched by his ability to administer it. On Feb. 1, 1959, in a game against the Rangers, Howe cemented his place as one of the game's top pugilists after he was sucker-punched by enforcer Lou Fontinato. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with a notorious mean streak, Fontinato was considered the league's toughest player. Not on this night. With a series of punches, Howe broke Fontinato's nose, bloodied his face and left him crumpled on the ice.
