 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
Mark HoweInduction into Flyer Hall Of Fame - Apr. 2001Induction into Hockey Hall Of Fame - Sept. 2011 |
| Mark Howe's 74-75 Rookie Card with father Gordie and brother Marty |
|
Mark started out earning championships early on in his career. In 1970-71, at 14, he led Detroit Jr. Red Wings to the US National Junior championships, leading league in assists and points, and named as outstanding forward. A year later he missed most of the season with corrective knee surgery but the next season he was still named to the US Olympic team. The team surprised everyone, earning a Silver medal. Not finished with championships, he moved to Toronto to play junior hockey in Canada and was named Memorial Cup MVP for his Toronto Marlboros. A new league, the WHA was forming. Mark's parents were approached about having Mark and his brother Marty playing in the upstart league. Gordie surprized everyone when he offer to come out of retirement so he could play with his sons. The trio led their Hoston Aeros to league championships in their first two years. The first year (1973-74) Mark made 2nd team all-star left wing and was named as the Lou Kaplan Award winner as Rookie of the Year. The following year on the way to the championship, Mark led the league in playoff goal scoring. |
|
After starting out with so many championships and titles, the 74-75 WHA Avco Cup championship would prove to be Mark's last
(he would end up as WHA runner up in 1976 and 1978 and Stanley Cup runner-up in 1985, 1987 and 1995).
In 1975-76 Mark had 6 shorthanded goals - the 3rd best in WHA history. He also tied a WHA record with 4 assists
in a playoff game (Apr-21-76 vs San Diego), and became the youngest WHA player ever to score 100 career goals.
The following season (1976-77) Mark started to play defense full time. As predicted, he could dominate games from
that position, and despite missing over 20 games due to a seperated shoulder, mark made second team all star at defense.
In 1977-78, the Howe trio moved to New England. Mark would end up 10th in league scoring and would set a team record with
5 points in a single game (1-25-78 vs Cinn). The 1978-79 season would be the last for the WHA. Mark would end his career with the
most career playoff points of any player and scored 7 career regular season hattricks along the way. |
|
|
In 1979-80, the WHA merged with the NHL. Boston had drafted Mark in 1974, but the Hartford Whalers (the new name of the New England franchise),
was allowed to protect two players in the merger and used one of these selections to reclaim Mark. The merger allowed Mark to play
with his father in his last NHL season. The 1980-81 season proved to be a turning point for Mark. He would eventually be named
as the Budwesier cup winner as best Hartford defenseman. He also became the 1st d-man in NHL history to get 2
shorthanded goals in one period (Oct-8-80 at St.Louis). At the mid-season all-star game Mark got the most votes among all Wales Conference defensemen.
But this season was most significant for a single episode that took place on December 27th, 1980. While fighting for the puck, his own net became dislodged. Mark
fell on the net and suffered a 5 inch puncture wound. He lost 35 pounds and his stimina suffered after requiring liquid diet to avoid intenstinal infections.
The next season Mark was still in the recovery process put the Whalers management considered him as damaged goods and felt
his physical complaints were effecting the team and decided to try and move him. |
|
Just prior to the 1982-83 season the Flyers made a huge trade - Ken Linseman, Greg Adams and a 1st and 3rd round draft pick to Hartford for Mark and a 3rd rounder.
The Flyers GM Keith Allen thougt he might be defensive liability but former Flyer Ed Van Impe tutored Mark and he became Flyers best d-man on both ends of the ice.
Mark would make the mid-season all star game that first season. At the end of the year Mark ended 5th in Hart voting, 7th in
Lady Byng voting and 2nd in voting for the Norris trophy to Rod Langway (despite getting more votes than Langway for the post season all star team).
Mark probably should have won the Norris that year. But there was a backlash against offensive defensemen always winning the
Norris trophy (mainly due to the one dimensional play of Paul Coffey). |
|
|
The 1984-85 season saw another all-star game appearence for Mark but it would be the following season that would be his career year. In 1985-86, Howe set team records for goals (24), assists (58) and points (82) by defenseman. He was named as the Clarke trophy winner as team MVP. He was once again the Norris trophy runner up and named to the 1st team all-star. He would also lead the entire NHL in plus-minus with a +85 (which is a team record that still stands today). The '86-'87 season was another standout for Mark - 2nd in the NHL with a +57, another 1st team all-star selection and Norris Trophy runner-up as the Flyers came within one game of the Stanley cup. He would also achieve two career milestones that year : his 100th pro point (including the WHA) on Jan 21st 1987 at Chicago and his 500th NHL point on March 3rd 1987 vs Buffalo. But it was also this season that Mark started to develop back problems. |
|
The back problems first forced Mark to miss the 1987 Rendezvous series which pited the NHL star vs the Soviets.
And unfortunately these same back problems would hamper the remainder of Mark's playing days. In 1991 Mark had a broken thumb which sidelined him
for two months and had back surgery and was told not to
play anymore as doctors feared for his health. Howe persisted and signed as a freee agent with the Detroit Red Wings,
helping to solidify a young blueline. He had one more Stanley Cup fianls appearance with the Wings in 1995, but once against fell just
short. On September 27th, 1995 Mark retired from hockey. Mark joined the Red Wings front office staff in a newly created
position of assistant to the hockey department. He works scout and helps with the Wings minor-league defensemen. |
|
Year |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PP | SH | GW | GT | Sht | Sh% |
| 1982-83 | 76 | 20 | 47 | 67 | 18 | 47 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 219 | 9.13 |
| 1983-84 | 71 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 44 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 184 | 10.33 |
| 1984-85 | 73 | 18 | 39 | 57 | 31 | 51 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 213 | 8.45 |
| 1985-86 | 77 | 24 | 58 | 82 | 36 | 85 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 193 | 12.44 |
| 1986-87 | 69 | 15 | 43 | 58 | 37 | 57 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 10.14 |
| 1987-88 | 75 | 19 | 43 | 62 | 62 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 177 | 10.73 |
| 1988-89 | 52 | 9 | 29 | 38 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 95 | 9.47 |
| 1989-90 | 40 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 11.11 |
| 1990-91 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 1991-92 | 42 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 11.11 |
| TOTAL | 594 | 138 | 342 | 480 | 323 | 349 | 39 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 1395 | 9.89 |
Year |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PP | SH | GW | OT | Sht | Sh% |
| 1983P | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1984P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.00 |
| 1985P | 19 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 6.52 |
| 1986P | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0.00 |
| 1987P | 26 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 2.99 |
| 1988P | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 18.75 |
| 1989P | 19 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL | 82 | 8 | 45 | 53 | 30 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 188 | 4.26 |
| Season | Award |
| 1985-86 | Best Plus-Minus : - |
| 1982-83 | 1st Team : Defence |
| 1985-86 | 1st Team : Defence |
| 1986-87 | 1st Team : Defence |
| 2016-17 | Lester Patrick : Service to US Hockey |
| Season | Award |
| 1982-83 | Barry Ashbee Trophy : Best Defenseman |
| 1982-83 | Yanick Dupre Memorial : Class Guy |
| 1985-86 | Barry Ashbee Trophy : Best Defenseman |
| 1985-86 | Bobby Clarke Trophy : Team MVP |
| 1986-87 | Barry Ashbee Trophy : Best Defenseman |
| 1987-88 | Barry Ashbee Trophy : Best Defenseman |
| Season | 1982-83 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Time |
| 10-Apr-85 | vs New York Rangers | 5-4 | W | 8:01 |
| Season | Amount |
| 1985-86 | 58 |
