Goodbye Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, We'll Miss You

Yesterday, we lost another Legend, Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe.  He lived 88 years and did a lot of damage in that time.  Gordie was a beast of a player.  He could play the game any way you wanted to play it and still beat you.  Everyone else has listed off his amazing stats and achievements but to me that was all made possible by his ability to adapt.  He could do it all:  shoot, pass, defend, hit, fight, and lead.  Howe was ambidextrous, shooting from the left or right side.  Why put a curve on your stick when you can do that?  Goalies and defenders never knew what to think.  The Man played with no cartilage in his knees for 32 years!!!  

He was a warrior and a gentleman.  This Guy knew he was the best player and he still knew humility.  Wayne Gretzky grew up idolizing him and people say that the greatest thing Howe taught Gretzky during their relationship was humility.  Gretz himself, says that Howe is the greatest hockey player of all time.  How can you argue with they guy who most people believe to be the greatest?

Grit, determination and the will to win.  This is what I think of, when I think of Mr. Hockey.  To me, those three things are at the very heart of hockey, so it's not to far fetched to say that Howe is hockey, not just Mr. Hockey, but hockey itself.

Any way you call it, we're gonna miss you Gordie, rest easy.  Thanks for everything!