18 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, June 28, 1995
Howe about that
Gordie and sons together again in Motor City
By Nicholas J. Cotsonika
Daily Sports Editor
DETROIT -Gordie Howe
stood outside another locker
room after another hockey game
in downtown Detroit last week, but this
time, The Legend was just a father.
As his grandson stood at his feet,
Howe greeted his oldestson, Marty, after
he coached Roller Hockey
Intemational's Motor City Mustangsto
their first-ever home victory, 11-5 over
the Minnesota Blue Ox.
Two days later, Gordie donned the
blades himself, warming up with the
Mustangs as part of a promotion before
their game with Orlando. Current
Mustang owners and Detroit Red
Wings Shawn Burr and Dino Ciccarelli
made Gordie a sixth-round draft pick
earlier this year, hoping he'd do more.
But the man many still consider to
be the greatest hockey player of all time
can do little more than watch now.
His sons are the ones determining
the future of Detroit hockey. Marty is
the first coach of Detroit's newest
sports franchise and Mark is a Red
Wing defenseman.
For the past two weeks, the Howe
family has been reunited. With the Red
Wings playing for the Stanley Cup and
with the Mustangs opening their
inaugural season, Gordie came down
from his home in Traverse City to lend
his support -equally.
Different night. Different arena.
Same love.
"Ijust like being here and watching
them work," Gordie said. "I've been
around a lot of hockey down here, and it
would be nice tosee another Stanley
Cup. Hopefully, Mark will get his name
on it and Marty will win something
here (with the Mustangs)."
The Howes have been synonmous
with Detroit hockey for decades. In
fact, Gordie was on the last Cup
champion in 1955.
The past two weeks were much like
the first time all three Howes had been in
the same city, involved in hockey, in
1979. Back then, Gordie had returned to
the NHL after retirement to play with
both Marty and Mark as Hartford
Whalers. He was finishing a career in
which he would amass 801 goals, 1049
assists and 1850 points. Marty and Mark
were just starting out.
"That was a fun time," Gordie said.
"But this is justas fun. Watching them
will always be fun."
It was ajoy for Gordie when his
Mustang jersey, the one he wore in
warm-ups, was auctioned off following
Motor City's 6-5 win over the Orlando
Rollergators on June 18. His son Marty's
team was then 3-0, and Gordie was
confident.
"(Roller hockey) is all pretty new to
him," Gordie said. "But he's caught on
quick. He's knows the game and he's
going to do really well."
Mark was hoping for the same thing
- to do really well. Just down the
COURTESY OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS
Gordie Howe accepts the puck for his 545th goal from Sid Abel.
street from the Mustangs home at Cobo without doing what his father did -
Arena, the Red Wings were in the win the Stanley Cup. Yet, no matter
Stanley Cup finals against the New what happens, the Howes will be fine.
Jersey Devils. Gordie was there too, They have memories, distinguished
sitting in a rocking Joe Louis Arena. careers and, of course, the Mustangs to
Different night. Different arena. watch. They will always be a part of
Same love. Detroit hockey, on the ice and the
But Mark was not as successful as SportCourt (roller hockey surface).
Marty. He played the first two games of "I'm happy for Marty," Gordie said.
the finals in Detroit, and the Red Wings "The team looksogood and he's going to
dropped both. His last chance to win the do a good job. Fans will grow to like this
Cup in his stellar 22-year career likely game. It's fast and there's a lot of action.
ended a week later in New Jersey. I'll be back to watch."
The Wings lost 5-2in Game Four But Marty's new Mustangsocan't
and were swept by the Devils. Mark was numb the pain he feels for Mark.
in the press box. Benched. After the final game of the finals,The
"(Wingscoach Scotty Bowman) has Legend found Mark, and hugged him.
to do what he thinks is right," Gordie Father to son. "I cried more than he did,
said. "It's too bad for Mark. I don'tknow Gordie said.
what is going to happen." Different night. Different arena.
Many feel Mark will retire soon, Same love.
INTRAMURAL
SPORTS ,
PROGRAM
COMPETM VEI
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
SOFTBALL Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 715 5:30pm IMSB
Instant Scheduling: Weds 7/5 5:30pm IMSB
Entry Fee: $50.00 per team
Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (Hil/ivisio/oover)
SAND Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/5 6:30pm IMSB
VOLLEYBALL Entries Taken: Weds 7/5 6:30pm IMSB
Entry Fee: $40.00 per team
Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (HimIvsion/oover)
3-on-3 Managers Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 7/5 7:30pm IMSB
BASKETBALL Entries Taken: Weds 7/5 7:30pm IMSB
Entry Fee: $25.0 per team
Play Begins: Tues 7/11 at Elbel Field (HIivisionHoover)
The deadline for Tennis (Singles and Doubles) entries
is Thursday July 13
while Golf (2-person team scramble) entries
are due Wednesday July 19.
OFFICIATING OPPORTUNITIES
OFFICIALS NEEDED
for
Summer SOFTBALL
Clinic begins:
7:00pm Wednesday July 5
at the IMSB.
For additional Information concerning LM Activities and oimatingcontact: IM Sports Program 763-3561 IMSB
SPORTING VIEWS:
Who really deserve
the., Stanley Cup?
W vs robbed by
formenr la ughing
stocks ofNHL
Give me a break. The New Jersey
Devils are the Stanley Cup Champions?
New Jersey? The Devils?
I remember the days before the
uniform change. Back then, New Jersey
players looked more like Christmas
trees in their red and green than hockey
players.
Well, the NHL must have felt sony
for them. All those years of being
laughed at gave them the liberty of
slowing the Red Wings down -
illegally.
During the regular season, the
Devils were the ninth-best team in
hockey. Why? Referees called holding,
interference and roughing. Back then,
Detroit was the best team in the NHL.
Why? They couldn't be held up.
In the playoffs, with the zebras'
whistles down their throats, the former
Christmas trees became Grinches and
stole the Cup from its rightful owners.
Merry Christmas New Jersey.
You didn't earn it.
-Nicholas J. Catsonika
Devils'sweep
proves New
Jersey no/luke
Make no mistake. The best team on
the ice last week was Jacques
Lemaires' New Jersey Devil's squad.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a much
bigger Red Wing fan than even Mr.
Cotsonika is, but I'm not quite as blind
as he is.
The Devils are a superior hockey
club.
Detroit came in with better players,
but New Jersey came in with the better
team.
The Devils are solid allithe way
around the ice. Second-year goalie Martin
Brodeur is the best in thebusiness.
Captain Scott Stevens and wonder-kid
Scott Niedermayer lead a balanced and
talented corps of defensemen.
And defense wins games. Lemaire
has installed an excellent fore-checking
defensive system that his players not
only believe in, but embrace.
Playoff hero Claude Lemieux and
Stephane Richer mount a tremendously
underrated offensive attack. Veteran
center NealBroten and winger John
MacLean add more scoring punch than
even the Wings have.
The Eastem Conference was
terribly underrated this year. And
because there was no interconferenceg
play in the lockout shortened season,
nobody had any idea how good the
teams were in the East. Especially the
Devils.
-JohnLeroi
Notes
Michigan swimmer Alecia
Humphrey and gymanst Beth
Wymer were named to the GTE Aca-
demic All American at-Large teams
this week. Humphrey, the 1993 and
1994 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year
and winner of three NCAA titles in
1995, was named to the second tea
Wymer, a three-time Big Ten gymn
of the year and winner of an unprec-
edented three-consecutive NCAA
Championships in the uneven bars,
was named to the third team.