Gordie Howe: Rest In Peace Mr. Hockey

Gordie Howe passed this morning, and the hockey world will feel his loss every time skates hit the ice.

It was just over a year ago that Gordie Howe scarred everyone with a series of strokes that nearly took his life. But the Winged Wheeler from Floral, Saskatchewan was able to brush it off like he did most defencemen during his playing days.  I wrote a story then about Howe and his legacy when he was in the hospital, it goes beyond the ice for most true hockey fans. Gordie Howe will forever be Mr. Hockey, an ambassador for the sport and a true Violent Gentleman.

He’s the greatest hockey player who ever played,” “That includes all of them.” Ted Lindsey

I know Pucks is built for news and thoughts on Anaheim Ducks Hockey, but when I heard the news this morning that Mr. Howe had passed; all I could muster to say was “damn”. Now that I’ve had time to think about the impact of a season without Gordie Howe gracing us with his presence now and then, and giving us a glimpse at what it was like to play with the likes of Sid Able and Ted Lindsey the great “Production Line”; my heart truly hurts.

Hockey will forever be evolving, growing, adding new heroes and villains; but we will never see the likes of Mr. Hockey again and that my friends is a sad idea to comprehend. To all my fellow Ducks fans and to Hockey fans in general, please do what you do best. Raise a pint, bow your heads and say a prayer for the fallen, for today we lost a legend.

Rest In Peace Mr. Hockey