The Compass Online - The Legendary #9 Visits LSSU

The Legendary #9 Visits LSSU

Written by Mackenzie Barrett

Sunday, 23 September 2007

On September 11, Lake State was the host to a living legend, #9, Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe. The evening began with a press conference featuring local media from radio, television, and print. After the press conference ended, Mr. Howe was escorted to the ice in Taffy Abel Arena for a question and answer session with Bill Crawford.
Coach Jim Roque welcomed everyone and thanked them for supporting the hockey program. Many people had wondered how someone like Gordie Howe was able to come to Lake State and Coach Roque stated that Mr. Hockey was brought here by a private donation. Howe greeted everyone in the room and began speaking and said that he was very proud that hockey has been so good to him. He tries to stay aware of college players today and said that kids today listen better than back in his day. When he started in professional hockey there were only around 220 jobs and today there are more than 1200. In his early days with the Detroit Red Wings, Howe said that he enjoyed coming up to Sault Ste. Marie for training camp at Pullar Arena. He said that he was very fortunate to join the Rangers training camp at age 14. He was always a very aggressive player even at such a young age. During training camp, Howe asked the coach why he couldn’t hit the other players and the coach responded “It’s practice. I don’t mind you being aggressive but don’t try to kill him!” One thing that Howe would tell college players today who are preparing for the pros is “Ask for more money! When I started in 1946, I received $2350 for the year and $50 of that was the signing bonus.” He also said that “If you don’t learn you’re gone.” Mr. Hockey was asked what the highlight of his career was and he then took a very serious tone and said that it was when he met his wife Colleen when he was judging a beauty pageant. He also spoke of his wife’s involvement with the creation of the Detroit Junior Red Wings club. When asked about the rule changes in both professional hockey and college hockey, Howe said “They should have left them alone. They are taking a lot away from the spectators and the game.” Also something that he wanted to stress was that “You can learn in a book and learn on the ice but if you can learn in both, you can be a very good hockey player.” Later, Howe was asked what it was like being able to play professional hockey with two of his sons. He said it was a great experience and that it became a conversation piece at the dinner table as well as being able to work with his sons to improve all of their games. He only thought that he would play one season and ended up playing for 7 years. He said that is was interesting when he scored a goal because his son would say “Nice goal….Gordie.” and wouldn’t call him dad. Howe, when responding to the question, “How important are the fans?”, he said “They are very important. The fans stay with you, no matter what position you play.” At the end of the question and answer, Mr. Hockey was presented with his very own #9 Laker Hockey jersey and said that he would sign the sweater to raise money. He was also presented with a framed collection of CCHA pucks made by Laker Hockey volunteer Jim Howie. The next stop for Mr. Hockey was the Laker Hockey locker room where he met this year’s Laker Hockey team. Each player introduced themselves individually and then had their picture taken with the hockey legend. When Howe was walking around the locker room talking to the players, he almost stepped on the anchor in the middle of the room. Laker Hockey tradition is that it is bad luck to step on the anchor in the middle of the locker room. When Howe heard the gasps he said, “I missed it didn’t I. Otherwise the 6’4” guy would kick the shit out of me!” When Laker Hockey Captain Troy Schwab was asked what he thought about the legend Gordie Howe coming to LSSU he said “It’s pretty special. A good Saskatchewan boy. It’s really quite an honor.”

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