Winners: Gordie Howe, Ice Hockey

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Gordie Howe holds down an opposing player

Canada’s Gordie Howe holds down Soviet Union’s Valeri Kharlamov in a game in Vancouver.
Date: September 23, 1974
Collection: CP photo/Doug Ball/Files

1963 - Feature Story

In a long and brilliant professional hockey career, in which he said he always intended to play what he called “religious hockey’’ - meaning it was better to give out punishment to the opposition than to receive it -- there’s a good chance Gordie Howe achieved his greatest personal heights in the calendar year of  1963. The long-time fierce competitor with the Detroit Red Wings dominated the individual awards during the 1962-1963 season.  He won his sixth Hart Trophy as National Hockey League most valuable player and sixth Art Ross Trophy as the league’s scoring champion, finishing with 86 points. Early in the next season, on Nov. 10, 1963, Howe beat Montreal’s Charlie Hodge with a wrist shot for his 545th career NHL goal, surpassing Maurice (Rocket) Richard to become the league’s career leading goal scorer and setting off a wild 20-minute standing ovation  in Detroit.

Career Highlights

  • 1972 Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
  • 1963 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
  • 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963 Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player in the NHL)
  • 1951-1954, 1957, 1963 Art Ross Trophy (NHL scoring champion)
  • 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings
Photograph of Gordie Howe

Portrait of Gordie Howe.
Date: 1948-1970
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Gordie Howe wearing a Detroit Red Wings uniform

Gordie Howe on the ice in a Detroit Red Wings uniform.
Date: 1948-1970
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Collage of Gordie Howe images

Gordie Howe superimposed onto a collage of various hockey action scenes.
Date: 1960
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Jean Beliveau and Gordie Howe (right)

Jean Beliveau (left) and Gordie Howe sitting in a locker room.
Date: 
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Gordie Howe (left) with goaltender Johnny Bower on the ice

Gordie Howe fighting for the puck with goalie Johnny Bower.
Date: 1950-1970
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Gordie Howe posing in front of 540 pucks

Gordie Howe posing in front of 540 pucks, one for each of the goals he’s scored in his 17 seasons in the NHL.
Date: 1963
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Gordie Howe’s blazer

Blazer worn by Gordie Howe as a member of Team Canada in 1974.
Date: 1974
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Gordie Howe lifts up his 22nd contract

Gordie Howe holds up his 22nd contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
Date: September 13, 1967
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

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