[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. GORDON HOWE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 31, 2008

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a living 
legend in Detroit ice hockey, Mr. Gordon ``Gordie'' Howe, as he 
celebrates his 80th birthday today.
  Mr. Hockey, as Howe is universally recognized for his greatness on 
the ice, sprang from humble beginnings. Born in Floral, Saskatchewan, 
Canada, in the midst of the Great Depression, Howe, who was the fifth 
of nine children, grew up in poverty and was often sick due to poor 
nutrition. A significant milestone in Howe's life came at the tender 
age of 5, when his mother purchased some used belongings from a 
neighbor, which included his first pair of skates.
  Howe immersed himself in hockey, day in and day out, using anything 
he could find, be it a puck, a tennis ball, or even clumps of dirt. 
While he didn't make the local youth hockey team, Howe didn't let this 
discourage him, and worked hard to develop into an excellent skater. 
During summers, Howe would work with his father at construction sites 
where the work helped him develop the exceptional strength that would 
give him one of the hardest shots in hockey. By the time he was 15, 
Howe was already an imposing 6 feet tall and 200 pounds.
  In 1943, Howe was invited by the New York Rangers for a tryout. Howe 
failed to make the team, but despite this rejection, he was invited to 
try out for the Detroit Red Wings, where he impressed the coach and 
general manager Jack Adams. In 1946, at the age of 18, Howe made his 
National Hockey League debut playing right wing for the Detroit Red 
Wings. He quickly established himself as a great goal scorer, a gifted 
playmaker, and a dominating physical presence on the ice. Using his 
strength and talent, Howe was able to dominate the opposition 
throughout a career that spanned 5 decades, a feat unmatched by any 
athlete in any sport.
  By the time Howe retired from the Red Wings in 1971, he had led them 
to four Stanley Cup championships, seven first place finishes, and 
established the team as a perennial powerhouse. In addition, Howe was a 
six-time NHL Most Valuable Player and winner of the scoring title, and 
was the career leader in games played, goals, assists, and points. In 
1973, when his sons Marty and Mark joined the Houston Aeros of the 
World Hockey Association, they convinced Gordie to fulfill his dream of 
playing on the professional level with them. After the WHA folded in 
1979, Howe joined the Hartford Whalers of the NHL for one final season, 
helping the team make the playoffs. In 1997, Howe accomplished the last 
milestone in his storied career when he played professional hockey in a 
sixth decade. Playing a shift with the Detroit Vipers of the 
International Hockey League at nearly 70 years old, Howe was greeted by 
a thundering ovation.
  Along with his many achievements on the ice, Howe and his wife 
Colleen are dedicated to the children of their community and around the 
world. The Howe Foundation, which they founded in 1993, is dedicated to 
enriching the lives of those in need.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a fine neighbor, a true 
Michigan fixture, and the man who made Detroit ``Hockeytown,'' the 
greatest sports city in the world. I wish him a happy and healthy 
birthday, and wish him many more to come.

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