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Happy New Year, goodbye hockey

Broadcast Date: Jan. 1, 1972

The old sore hand excuse no longer cuts it for "Mr. Elbows." Gordie Howe leaves the hockey rink for good after too many "sore hand" or "legs not responding" excuses this year. When he retires, Howe finally owns up to old age as the reason for not being up to his game (rather than painful body parts). After 25 years in the league it's a sentimental exit, recalled in this clip of CBC Radio's year-end sports roundup.

The show also documents three other '71 hockey exits: Toronto's George Armstrong and Montreal's John Ferguson and Jean Béliveau.

Happy New Year, goodbye hockey

• Known as one of hockey's greatest players, Gordie Howe was often called "Mr. Hockey" by fans and press. His website says NHL president Clarence Campbell coined the nickname, and that his wife Colleen later had "Mr. Hockey" trademarked.
• On Oct. 16, 1946, Howe's NHL career began when he played his first game with the Detroit Red Wings. He had been scouted in his hometown of Floral, Sask., and sent to training camp.

• Howe was later dubbed "Mr. Elbows," mainly by his opponents, whom he was able to knock down with one elbow check.
• Montreal Canadien J.C. Tremblay was reportedly carried off the ice on a stretcher after Howe elbowed him. Although Howe was a big player for his time (205 pounds, 6 feet), he was still a high scorer. Howe was a six-time winner of the NHL scoring title.
• He also won four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955) while playing with the Red Wings.

• Howe retired from hockey a total of three times. This clip reported on his first retirement, from the Detroit Red Wings, at the end of the '71 season. He returned in 1973 to play for the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros. In 1979, he signed on again with the NHL, playing for the Hartford Whalers only to retire again at the end of the season.
• At 69, Howe came back to professional hockey for one last year. From 1997-98, he played for the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers.

• George Armstrong, heard in this CBC Radio clip, also retired at the end of the '71 season. From 1950-71, he played a team record of 1,187 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Two more retirees this year were Canadiens' John Ferguson, known as hockey's first "goon," and Jean Béliveau, 10-time Stanley Cup winner.
• The radio clip with Howe and Armstrong was part of a year-end sports roundup for 1971. Also on the show was an interview with CFL MVP Winnipeg Blue Bomber Don Jonas.

Happy New Year, goodbye hockey

Medium: Radio

Program: Special

Broadcast Date: Jan. 1, 1972

Guest(s): George Armstrong, Gordie Howe

Host: Alec Bollini, Fred Walker, George Atkins

Duration: 1:10

Last updated:
April 16, 2008