WATCH: It has become Gordie Howe day in Saskatchewan as residents celebrate the arrival of Mr. Hockey and other hockey royalties to the city. Aaron Streck talks to some locals about their memories growing up with a hockey legend.
SASKATOON – Some communities like to showcase their hometown heroes on a sign as you drive in, and while here in Saskatoon there aren’t any signs saying this is the home of Mr. Hockey, it doesn’t take long to find out it is Gordie Howe’s town. He might best be known as Mr. Hockey but Gordie Howe is also “Mr. Community.”
With Howe back in his hometown for possibly one last time, number ‘9’ flags fly around Saskatoon including his old stomping grounds.
“He tended to come for visits unexpectedly when he was in town, sometimes he would just pop in and say hello,” said Edna Selski.
Selski was King George School’s Community educational assistant for 24 years. Now retired, Selski remembers crossing paths with Mr. Hockey over the years.
“He was a very kind, down to earth kind of person, what you saw is what you got,” said Selski.
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Howe went to King George in the 40’s, and in ’93 he celebrated his 65th birthday with a visit to where he shared some of his fondest memories.
“He talked about the sports and whatever and then much to the delight of our students and not so much our staff, he talked about how to make the best snowball,” said Selski.
Barb Riordon reflects on the relationship between Gordie Howe and her dad.
Riordon has a scrap book documenting the first time Howe and Don McFarlane met back in 1961, when Don started a hockey league in Ontario and invited the Detroit Red Wings star to a banquet.
“My father, I like to say, was a man with a vision and a hero, his vision was to organize this hockey league and his hero was Gordie Howe and to have Gordie Howe come to Temagami shows how much he values the work that other people do in organizing sport,” said Riordon.
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Their paths would cross again and when McFarlane’s health began to deteriorate. Riordon ordered Mr. and Mrs. Hockey’s book for her dad.
“Hello Don, thanks for a great day of pickerel fishing. Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey and of course Colleen signed it as well too,” said Riordon.
Which was followed up by a phone call.
“My dad and Gordie Howe talked for about 10 minutes about family, about growing old and about being caregivers for their wives,” said Riordon.
“When I went to see my dad later in the afternoon, I said ‘dad how was your talk with Gordie Howe’ and he said ‘oh Barbie that was the best Christmas gift ever’.”
Sadly her dad passed away in 2005 but Gordie Howe’s presence in Saskatoon this week helps bring back those happy memories.
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