Gordie Howe / Bobby Orr incident at Boston Garden in November 1966 1966-67 NHL season.

[@howardkirshenbaum9656]

Bobby and Gordie had the utmost respect for each other. The way Gordie tells it ( available online), he was retaliating for a cheap shot Bobby took at him earlier. Gordie says first he circled left, then he circled right, and then he went right over top of him. He said that when he flattened Orr ( Orr said he saw little birdies) the Bruin's "bully boys" came after him, but Bobby told them to back off saying, "Gentlemen, I deserved that" That really got Gordie's respect and he said ( I've heard him say it slightly different ways), "if that young man has such great brains as well as such great talent, he'll go far" He also said Orr impressed him more than anyone else with his skill, ( although he had great respect for Belivieau and called him just about perfect). For his part, Orr says Howe was the greatest player that ever lived and probably ever will live. For me, it's Orr, but when Orr, Gretzy and Mario agree it's Howe, ( three of the other modern candidates for greatest of all time), I'm in no position to argue.

[@brupic8968]

phil esposito also said howe....as did scotty bowman

[@briangraham1024]

Nahhh ... it's Bobby all the way! 😊

[@brupic8968]

i'm not sure lemieux chose howe as best. thought i saw an interview with once with orr, gretzky, lemieux, ron maclean and perhaps somebody else and he said hmmmm i don't recall.

[@donfraser6465]

Who is the GOAT is hard because of the improvement of players and their equipment over time. Orr's skating level was far above his time and why he dominated - that would not be the case today by any means. Many of the players for the 50s and 60's could not shoot as hard as junior players do today (and I have been told that from some NHLers who played at that time - and you just have to watch the videos). So how do you compare athletes who have proper nutrition, hydration, training for strength and much more sophisticated skill development from day one- not to mention have exposure to much better hockey sense, and coaching because the game is much more intelligent and quicker than it used to be (don't get me wrong there are still a lot of players who don't play intelligence). On a pure skills basis Mario is the best as I think even Wayne has admitted a few times when not having to say the diplomatic thing about his idol growing up. Mario could do everything Wayne could do and more plus play defensively much better. Bobby is my favourite and idol - worth the price of admission as they say. However, put him in today's game and without the speed and strength advantage he would be very good but not dominant. Imagine a McDavid skating against and 1950s or 1960s team - they would have to chop him down or hurt him some way because they certainly would not have seen moves and speed like that - not even Perrault.

[@brupic8968]

@@donfraser6465 on the other hand, if orr had the knee problems today, they'd be a lot easier to fix. and he'd have all the advantages that come with growing up a generation or so later. as for mario and gretzky. lemieux was called a coach killer early in his career. first time i've heard his defensive ability praised. you aren't going back that far. i've posted that i knew, slightly, the longest serving referee in nhl history at the time. i was talking to him about hockey and he was pretty non committal about his opinions until i opined that the holy trinity was howe, orr and gretzky and many would add mario.....he immediately blurted out 'Beliveau was better than lemieux'. finally, it's all unprovable, as i've said in previous posts. if orr, gretzky, lemieux, esposito and scotty bowman say howe was the best---i was surprised espo said that--i would guessneither you nor i know 1% as much as they do.

[@GuyCybershy]

Every rookie knew Gordie would initiate them into the league with some kind of cheap shot. Esposito's description of his first tangle with GH is hilarious.

[@roberteaston6413]

Wayne Gretzky said that in his first year of pro hockey(WHA) he once played against Gordie Howe. Gretzky had the puck and skated around Howe and scored. As he was skating towards the bench Howe came alongside him and whacked his hand with his stick. It hurt. It was simply because he had embarrassed him. No wonder Howe got into so many fights.

[@timmellin2815]

Okay....don't keep me in suspense.......please describe it !

[@GuyCybershy]

@@timmellin2815 Well he got an elbow in the chops which loosened a few teeth plus Gordie called him a 'wop'.

[@robertmayer2748]

Gordie just welcoming them into the elbow club!

[@willamderrick]

I skated with both these gentlemen. Gordie when I was 7 at a Wings practice in 1952. At a Jr. A practice when Bobby was 16 & I was 19. We all said if this is our competition, better start looking for a good day job. Gordie was Bobby's hero growing up.

[@guyswain5885]

Was that at the St. Catharines Arena?

[@mrv6968]

As Bobby would state later on in his career about this incident, "It was the Man!" Both fierce competitors and both honourable as hell!

[@rickrick5041]

Google: Bobby Orr talking: “I was about 12. So while we were fishing, Gordie Howe asked me if I wanted to play hockey and I told him I wanted to make it to the NHL and he told me, ‘Well, if you get there, be careful, watch my elbows.’ ’’ That turned out to be good advice on the night of Oct. 19, 1966. “Early in the game, I got my elbow a little high on him,’’ remembered Orr. “A little later, I was watching one of my pretty passes, looking back, and next thing I knew, I was on the ice. “I’d had my head down, and he hit me pretty good. Gordie had let me know that he was still the man. He was standing over me, glaring down at me. “A bunch of my teammates skated to my defense and there was a little scrum, but I didn’t want that. I told my guys, ‘It’s OK, I asked for that. I’ll take care of it myself.’ ’’

[@johnuhelski8613]

It's all about RESPECT , no hit goes away without a come back. These two had crazy respect for each other....

[@DavidEJacob]

I remember every time the Hawks played Detroit all the cheap shots Howe would take at Hull or Mikita or whacks in the face of Esposito in the net…and I couldn’t wait for Magnuson to have a go at Howe! Unfortunately it seemed that not even Keith Magnuson, the Hawks enforcer) could lick Howe. Then Jerry Korab came to Chicago 😮 that guy was BIG and would take anyone down just for daring to cross over the Hawks blue line! Ahhhh, those were the days! I had a small transistor radio I’d hide in my bed and when Mom closed the door I’d listen to the games under my pillow as I was going to sleep :)

[@ericw3229]

Magnuson was not a great fighter. Good thing he never took Howe on

[@roberteaston6413]

@@ericw3229 He once had a fight with a player who was the best man at his wedding.

[@brupic8968]

magnuson was tough but couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. i saw him in a number of fights....didn't fare well.

[@Brian-xu9di]

Magnuson never backed down from a fight, but I think the only one I ever saw him win was against Carol Vadnais of the Bruins. I didn't know that Keith was the enforcer - but i just looked it up, and it's true. I did hear that at some point he took boxing lessons to help his fighting, but I thought that that was because he was losing so many fights.

[@brupic8968]

i was a sports reporter for a number of years and born in 1950. the reality is that it's unprovable but nice argue about it. and opinions are like assholes.....everybody has one (or more). for me howe is 1, orr 1A and gretzky 2. mario might be next but when i mentioned that to a NHL referee who had the longest service when he retired--who'd been quiet when i opined--he blurted out 'beliveau was better than lemieux!'. howe finished in the top five in scoring 21 consecutive years and if you make it top 10, 22 consecutive years. retired at 52 after scoring 15 goals and 26 assists. orr, gretzky and phil esposito who played with orr for years all pick howe. finally, a guy named scotty bowman winner of the most stanley cups and most regular season coaching wins picked howe as the first player he'd pick if he was starting a team. i know a little about hockey but i'm not arrogant enough to think i know more than the legends i've mentioned above.

[@timmellin2815]

Remember the picture of Gretzky at 12 yrs old in a suit, and Howe in a suit as they both posed with Howe hooking his stick around Wayne's noggin.....a tongue in cheek photo that was a harbinger of things to come.

[@acousticshadow4032]

The day Robert Gordon Orr came to Boston from Parry Sound ~ was the best day in my hockey life! We love you, Bobby! 🏒

[@jollyp1605]

Bobby Orr was in a class of his own. By far the greatest talent I have ever seen. He could go through the opposing team any time he felt like it.

[@howie9751]

Yes, at that time. But defenses have gotten much better since then, and you never see end to end rushes any more. Doesn't mean the rushing defensemen today are not as good. It's just a different game.

[@chr970]

@@howie9751 put Bobby I today’s game , same equipment…..yeah you would still see him going end to end.

[@howie9751]

@@chr970 I disagree. The defenses are much better now and Orr played in a time when there were no defensive coaches, only a head coach. The schemes they employ now would not allow an end-to-end rush. Orr would still be a great defenseman, but it would be different.

[@chr970]

@@howie9751 you can disagree….but put in Orr today, it would be like nothing you’ve seen. Defensive coaching would put a smile on his face. His skill was supreme back in the old equipment days. With today’s technology and skates he would be unstoppable.

[@OldGretscher]

TY!

[@christopherneyfeldt4587]

Two of the greatest players to ever strap on a pair of skates. I had the utmost respect for both of them and I’m a Diehard Blackhawks fan.

[@karlschneider9479]

I have the utmost respect for the Blackhawks and I'm a Bruins fan. I liked Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita and a few others. Plus you are good solid passionate fans

[@mikepercival8702]

Of course they had the ultimate for each other.

[@bryanmurphy459]

Sorry bud. Wwas expecting a video of what happened not Cheesy music and stills.

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

There are no videos of this game so this is the best you can hope for.

[@michaelcanney7218]

And the cheesy music.....?

[@howie9751]

@@michaelcanney7218 You wanted Quiet Riot?

[@donaldbrinks5115]

One thing for sure is that this was when men were still real men. No helmets, no visors and NO scruffy, shaggy beard. And Gordie is the GOAT and Bobby the GOAT of defensemen.

[@stevenelief6784]

Milt Schmidt

[@donaldbrinks5115]

@@stevenelief6784 He was definitely one of the greats, and what a tribute when the Kraut Line left the ice the final time at Boston Garden before leaving to fight in The Big War. I think Milt would have admitted he was one step on the ladder below Howe, Richard Orr and even Hull. But he was one of the greats.

[@michaelcanney7218]

It's when they left the Montreal forum, which made it even more impressive. But he wasnt even close to gordie, and even father from orr

[@donaldbrinks5115]

@@michaelcanney7218 I have a real hard time watching hockey anymore. It is so watered down now and they all look alike with the helmets. Dylan Larkin the captain of Detroit could come to my front door and I would not recognize him. It is still better than watching ANY basketball game though.

[@howie9751]

@@donaldbrinks5115 I used to love to go to hockey games and watch the players skate by and I'd recognize them without names on the backs of their sweaters. I know the helmets are necessary but I missed those earlier days.

[@kcgbuilds7474]

As 26-year-old who did security work for him? Nice guy I meet

[@johnbarroll1120]

Too bad they didnt have highlight film of this incident. All "away" Redwing Games were televised for their Detroit fans. Would have been nice to see Gordie deck Bobby, welcoming him to the NHL.

[@nakilpatrick]

Gordie tested all the young hot shots, wanted to see if they were actually going to stick around ...

[@louyep101]

Bobby Orr wrote the forward to Gordie Howe's memoir 'Mr. Hockey.' In the forward, Bobby recalls this incident, and, a discussion about it with Gordie sometime later. Bobby says that during that conversation Gordie said it had to do with what he felt were liberties Bobby had taken with the stick earlier in the game. "But why flatten me like that?," asked Bobby. Gordie's reply, "Well, I am a very religious player. I feel it is better to give than receive."

[@microy]

saw GH play during W.H.A Game Against the Toros. Would usually come out in the third for a few shifts...

[@dd5921]

Butt ending is the most cowardly act you can do. Don’t know why mr hockey had to play like this or why he was so revered for being a cheap shot artist

[@rickrick5041]

There is worse. He was getting revenge and that's one of the ways. It hurts a lot

[@Don-co9zs]

he always was a prick. The Rocket outshone them all for character skill and heart

[@rickrick5041]

It might have been an elbow

[@howardkirshenbaum9656]

Well, Gordie came into the league in a different era when a cheap shot from another player could end your career if not your life, and Gordie came close himslef a couple of times. I tend to agree with you, but the greats of hockey apparently don't and their opinion is better than mine

[@gregwright9869]

You must be new. That's how hockey was forever. Besides no one knows it was actually a butt. (Except Gordie).

[@diamonddog13]

Is there a reason that a game in Boston would have Detroit in Red and Boston in white? At that time (like now) the home team typically wore the darker uniforms. That changed to home wearing lighter uniforms from 1970-2003. I believe the Bruins at that time usually wore gold sweaters at home rather than black (which came back the next year).

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

Boston wore white virtually every game that season. Video from Toronto and Montreal also has them wearing white. Newspaper pics from that season has them wearing white at home and away. Strange.

[@steveperry1344]

gordie howe was a great player but could also be a real brute, and built like a brick,watch out for that elbow. bobby orr was the best too.

[@karlschneider9479]

My dad was a massive hockey fan here is Boston and he told me some great Gordie Howe stories. My dad also became friends with Bobby Bauer of the famous Kraut Line!

[@brupic8968]

and many people say he was the nicest guy they'd ever met....off the ice.

[@steveperry1344]

yes, i played alot of hockey in my younger days and things are different on the ice. i had gotten into rough stuff and fights, things i most likely wouldn't do normally.@@brupic8968

[@waynedawe1114]

2 of some of the greatest Hockey players of all time

[@Goldmember66]

“Exchanged unprintables”. 😆

[@jayfidanza5755]

THAT'S hockey. I hope the B's never let up on paying him back. Both were GREAT players

[@tomp4925]

Howe welcomed Brad Park into the NHL, also.

[@brupic8968]

bobby clarke and brad park too and....well, everybody

[@argopunk]

Howe was a master of stick work and elbows besides being a fantastic player. An old friend recalled being rinkside along the side boards at Maple Leaf Gardens before there was anything between the fans and the players. My friend, right where he was sitting, said Howe slammed a rookie Leaf against the boards while jamming the butt of this stick into the kid's guts telling the kid never to "try that again" for some infraction the kid did to Howe.

[@jsquared1013]

The music doesn't quite fit the tone of the event 😅

[@jimglover6630]

Did Orr have his head up?

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

From the article he seems he didn't.

[@dalegribble60]

Bobby thought it was a butt end but in reality it was Gordies elbow!

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

Most likely.

[@Stan-h1s]

BUT MR HOCKEY COULD FIGHT, SCORE, & PLAYED WITH HIS 2 SON'S!!!!!!!!!!( HE DIDN'T NEED ANYONE TO PROTECT HIM LIKE THE SO- CALLED GREAT ONE DID??????????( & YES BOBBY ORR WAS THE BEST DEFENSEMAN OF ALL TIME IN MY OPINION!!!!!!!!

[@frankdiscussion2069]

this was also Jaromir Jagr's rookie season

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

Haha

[@karlschneider9479]

Greatest sports term ever the Gordie Howe hat trick!

[@davekearney1944]

It's a great term, but Gordie only had 2 more of them than I did and I never played a game in the NHL. It sounds better than the Rick Tocchet hat trick though.

[@karlschneider9479]

@@davekearney1944 I know!

[@blackhawk32b4]

Nice if you had the video

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

Agreed but very little video left from that era. Such a shame.

[@jongilbertson2106]

Old time hockey!

[@johnranallo424]

Old time hockey!!

[@geofflepper3207]

Let's not pretend these were nice guys. Howe was a dirty player known for his cheap shots at opponents. Not sure that the fact that he was an incredibly talented player who had no need to behave that way to succeed in the NHL makes him worse or not than a typical dirty player who had to play that way just to make it into the NHL but regardless it's pretty bad. Orr is even worse in that not only does he support the horrific Trump cult that poses the biggest danger to the United States in its history but he also went to the trouble to take out a full page ad to say that he supports Trump just in case anyone wasn't sure of that. Too many sports fans idealize horrible people simply because they are talented at sports. Don't do that.

[@jscottrockford]

Yes, because the country and the world are in much better shape with that pudding brain in the WH now! 😂😂Go lay down and sleep it off, skippy………you’ll feel better in the morning! 🍷🍷🍷

[@charlesporter1148]

well now....wanting a closed border is a threat to the country ?? you better learn to think at a higher level.....friend !!!

[@tonybozzelli287]

Lost all respect for BO the Trumpster.

[@jwerkjy34rku2rkjoilj]

I don't think Sinden was Bruins' coach at this time

[@hockeyyesterdayandtoday3342]

He was the Bruins' coach in 1966-67 when Orr was a rookie.

[@michaelcanney7218]

Pay attention

[@jwerkjy34rku2rkjoilj]

But Tom Johnson was the coach in 70, and Harry in '72, so I'm not sure what went on there

[@johncassani6780]

@@jwerkjy34rku2rkjoiljNo. Johnson was the coach in 72, Harry won in 70 and quit, and I think Bep Guidolin was coach in 71.

[@Lava1964]

Sinden was Boston's coach until the 1969-70 season. When the Bruins declined to give him the modest pay raise he asked for, he quit a few days after Orr's famous Cup-winning goal. Tom Johnson replaced Sinden. Johnson stepped down as coach in 1973. He opted to remain as GM only. Bep Guidolin finished the 1972-73 as Boston's coach, and coached the team through the 1973-74 season. Don Cherry replaced Guidolin for the 1974-75 season. @@johncassani6780

[@markp8277]

Howe could with a surgeons touch cut you for 3 , 4 or five stitches with his stick he decided !

[@Michael-fw5ef]

Howe was a dirty player. I have no idea why people treat him with respect.

[@JamesHadfield-qz9rv]

its a dirty game. go back to soccer with rest of Sensitives!

[@jaymoon5906]

Both greats on my list 1 Orr 2 Howe 3 lemeux Richard 5 the young lady miss gretsky

[@mike840621]

Old time hockey eh.

[@miraposajehano4309]

Howe was, for a while back in the days, reputed to be the best all around player in the NHL. I personally think he was the filthiest player to ever play the game along Mark Messier. As soon as they put their skates on, both players acted as if their stick was a weapon to be used along with skates to hit the opponent. I'm old enough to have seen both players in action. Orr was a poet on skates and as soon as he had the puck, he controlled the game. Howe and Messier were two idiots from the prairies who made up with both cows and their sisters since there was nothing else to do growing up in the inbreed county.

[@roberteaston6413]

I once worked with a lady at Safeway who used to work with Molly Maid in the 1980's. One of the places she had to clean was Messiers's apartment. He was filthy in another way. No cleaning lady should have to pick up a used condom.

[@zackjay71]

Howe was a real man displaying dominance. Bow down and kneel before him.

[@roberteaston6413]

@@zackjay71 In the 1950's people said that his wife, Colleen, was more intelligent than him. He played good in the rink but at home his wife ruled.

[@miraposajehano4309]

@@zackjay71 I am pretty sure you have never seen him play. Only someone who wear dresses and suck on lollipops all day would write such an ignominy.

[@JamesHadfield-qz9rv]

you are so Obviously a PINHEAD of the Highest order

[@Pfsif]

I have lost all respect for Howe over the years.

[@willamderrick]

Gordie never turned down a autograph for anyone.

[@howie9751]

@@willamderrick I don't think Dave Schultz did either. So what?

[@sammyweed4771]

Who care what you think. You didn’t play hockey in that ERA

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

👍🏒

[@paulsmashupchannel1442]

I hear these stories about Gordy- he was a cheap shot artist, not a tough guy.

[@ericw3229]

Guess you never heard about the Fontinato fight Google it

[@christopher1459]

Orr wasnt the best defenceman of all time, Robinson, Potvin, Borgue, Lindstrom to name a few.. much better..he played offensive rather than defensive.. rather than passing the puck forward as they did in that time, he skated the puck forward..

[@SparkyBobcat-el8hf]

Bourque

[@robertgosselin14]

It’s you opinion, even if it is delusional.

[@johnsutton6233]

It’s obvious you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about! Lol lol

[@christopher1459]

Homies from Boston have always had blinders on.

[@jameswilde4190]

Howe was great but nobody could play like Orr.

[@motogig7803]

Doesn't matter how great people say you are, Cheap is Cheap. No honor in stick butting players or elbows to the head.

[@Boots27J]

No penalty called, hah. NHL refs have always been one step away from roller derby and wrestling.

[@walkerpercy8702]

Howe ahouldve been suspended

[@44522]

Wayne Gretzky has them beat hands down.

[@rickbadessa4897]

All I can do is laugh... Come back down here to Earth my friend where reality is

[@JamesHadfield-qz9rv]

gretzky was a frail skinny weakling that never would have lasted a Month in the "REAL" NHL. But the Pussification of league along with Fixed officiating allowed the Ballerina to thrive. Kinda like Another Fag mike jackson in rock+roll Hall of Shame!

[@GeorgeFitness-yo8bl]

Bobby is the greatest and most exciting hockey player ever top put on skates not Gordie!

[@larrysmac]

LOL...Right...So when did you play in the NHL? I mean, since your opinion is so much more insightful than Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, etc.

[@brupic8968]

@@larrysmac don't forget scotty bowman said if he had to pick a team and choose one player it'd be howe.

[@larrysmac]

@@brupic8968 Amen.

[@brupic8968]

@@larrysmac one other point. howe's style was so effortless that he never really looked he was flying out there. however, many who played against him said it shocked them when they actually got on the ice against him. somewhere around 1964, i believe it was, they clocked players' speed. don't know what the technology was but bobby hull (25) was fastest, yvan cournoyer (21) was second and gordie howe (36) was third. finally is somebody says orr is better, i can't say they're crazy or wrong because he was great--it's all opinion and unprovable.

[@larrysmac]

@@brupic8968 All I know as a 72 y/o Wings fan, Gordie passed my 'eye test' as the GOAT, Cournoyer the fastest, and (so sorry Bruins fan boys) the Habs as the GOAT hockey franchise.