NHL stars pause to remember 'sweet,' 'genuine' Gordie Howe

SAN JOSE – Among Gordie Howe’s many contributions to the NHL is the fact that his name is synonymous with being both skilled and combative.

“I think everybody knows what a Gordie Howe hat trick is,” San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton said. “It’s the pride of hockey players.”

Players register a Gordie Howe hat trick when they record a goal, an assist and earn a fighting major penalty in a single game.

“You get one of those and you are pretty proud of it and I’ve had the pleasure of getting a couple in my career,” Thornton said Saturday as he remembered Howe, the day after the NHL legend died at age 88.

Thornton was 16 when he met Howe for the first time in Detroit.

“It was such a huge thrill,” Thornton recalled. “He was a bigger-than-life personality and player. When you meet a guy like that you don’t know what to expect, but he met all of my expectations and more.”

Thornton said Howe’s demeanor off the ice was a sharp contrast from his reputation for on-ice ruthlessness. Thornton said Howe was a "sweet man."

“You hear all of the stories of what a fierce competitor he was,” Thornton said. “But every time I met him he was such a kind, kind man.”

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who also has a Gordie Howe hat trick on his resume, used the word “genuine” to describe Howe.

“He has probably met so many people over the years,” Crosby said. “And anyone who has met him will tell you he makes you feel comfortable. He genuinely cares.”

Penguins forward Chris Kunitz is from Saskatchewan, where Howe was born.  He seems to believe there’s a bit of Howe in all players from that Canadian province.

“The mentality I have to grow up and be a hockey player is bred into guys from Western Canada,” Kunitz said. “Toughness. You may not have the stature, but you still do whatever you can to help your team win….I think everybody from Saskatchewan wants to go out and be that kind of player.”