Harry Howell
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1979
Howell with the New York Rangers in 1952
Born (1932-12-28)December 28, 1932
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died March 9, 2019(2019-03-09) (aged 86)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
California Golden Seals
Los Angeles Kings
New York Golden Blades
San Diego Mariners
Calgary Cowboys
Playing career 1952–1976

Henry Vernon Howell (December 28, 1932 – March 9, 2019) was a Canadian professional hockey player and longtime star for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played in the NHL and then the World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1952 and 1976. After his playing career Howell briefly worked as a coach in both leagues, as well as the general manager of the Cleveland Barons in the NHL during the 1977–78 season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

Life

He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and died on March 9, 2019, at the age of 86.[1] He attended GCVI (Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute), in Guelph, Ontario. Harry was a Westdale Secondary School Alumni. (see Westdale Secondary School). He also played hockey in Guelph.

Career

Howell joined the New York Rangers in 1952. In 1955 he was named captain, but gave up that position after two seasons, as he felt he played poorly those years.[2]

A stalwart, stay at home defenceman, in 1967 Howell was the last player in the pre-expansion era to win the Norris Trophy,[3] and famously said that he was glad he won the trophy then, because Bobby Orr (who finished third that year) would "own" the Norris for some time to come; Orr would win the trophy for the next eight seasons).[4] Howell's playing weight was 195 and he stood 6 foot 1 inches tall. He played seventeen years wearing number 3 for the Rangers.[5]

In 1969 Howell was offered a front-office position with the Rangers if he retired, but he was interested in still playing, so was sold to the Oakland Seals.[6] He played another eight years in professional hockey; two with Oakland/California Seals, three with the Los Angeles Kings, and one each with three World Hockey Association (WHA) teams: New York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights (1973–74 WHA season), San Diego Mariners (1974–75), and ending his playing career with the Calgary Cowboys (1975–76).[7]

Howell first moved into team management while still a player. After seven games with the New York Golden Blades, on November 21, 1973, Howell was elevated to player-coach when the team was moved and became the Jersey Knights for the remainder of the season.[8] At the end of that season, the Knights moved and became the San Diego Mariners, with Howell still performing double duty as player-coach. Howell was strictly a player during his season with the Calgary Cowboys.

Howell played 1,411 NHL games and 170 WHA games, scoring 101 goals and 360 assists for 461 points.[9]

He was named a First Team All-Star in 1967, and played in All-Star Games in 1954, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1970.

When he left the NHL, Howell had played more games as a defenseman than anyone else, and remains sixth in all time games played as a defenseman. He also holds the record for most games played for New York Rangers: 1,160.[10]

After retiring as a player, Howell became general manager of the Cleveland Barons for the 1977–78 NHL season. The Barons were in dire financial circumstances, and merged with the equally challenged Minnesota North Stars at the end of that season. Howell became head coach of the merged Minnesota North Stars for the 1977–78 season, but resigned after only 11 games.

Howell was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.[11]

In 1990, he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Edmonton Oilers where he served as a scout.[12] In 2000 he re-joined the Rangers as a scout, and worked in that role until retiring in 2004.[13]

Howell's #3, along with Andy Bathgate's #9, was retired by the New York Rangers on February 22, 2009.[14][15]

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Howell at No. 10 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.[16]

Career statistics

Harry Howell's exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1951–52 Guelph Biltmores OHA 511720370 —————
1951–52 Cincinnati Mohawks AHL 10000 —————
1952–53 Guelph Biltmores OHA 52240 —————
1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 67381146 —————
1953–54 New York Rangers NHL 67791658 —————
1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 702141687 —————
1955–56 New York Rangers NHL 703151877 50114
1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 652101270 51016
1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 70471162 61018
1958–59 New York Rangers NHL 7041014101 —————
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 67761358 —————
1960–61 New York Rangers NHL 707101762 —————
1961–62 New York Rangers NHL 666152189 60118
1962–63 New York Rangers NHL 705202555 —————
1963–64 New York Rangers NHL 705313675 —————
1964–65 New York Rangers NHL 682202263 —————
1965–66 New York Rangers NHL 704293392 —————
1966–67 New York Rangers NHL 7012284054 40004
1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 745242962 61010
1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 56471136 20000
1969–70 Oakland Seals NHL 554162052 40112
1970–71 California Golden Seals NHL 2809914 —————
1970–71 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1838114 —————
1971–72 Los Angeles Kings NHL 771171853 —————
1972–73 Los Angeles Kings NHL 734111528 —————
1973–74 New York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights WHA 653232624 —————
1974–75 San Diego Mariners WHA 744101428 510110
1975–76 Calgary Cowboys WHA 310336 20002
NHL totals 1,411943244181,298 3833632
WHA totals 1707364358 710112

NHL/WHA Coaching record

TeamLeagueYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
Jersey Knights WHA 1973–74 582630254 6th in East Missed playoffs
San Diego Mariners WHA 1974–75 784331490 2nd in West Lost in semi-finals
Minnesota North Stars NHL 1978–79 113628 4th in Adams Resigned

Awards and achievements

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NHL Hall of Famer Harry Howell, Rangers games leader, dies at 86". Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 193. ISBN 978-0470736197. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ "In the know on the Norris (www.nhl.com)". Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  4. ↑ "Legends of Hockey: Silverware- James Norris Memorial Trophy Winner (www.legendsofhockey.net)". Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  5. ↑ "Legends of Hockey Spotlight, Treasure Chest (www.hhof.com)". Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  6. ↑ Cohen; Halligan; Raider. 100 Ranger Greats. p. 194.
  7. ↑ "NOPAC TALENT: America's Premier Celebrity & Sports Talent Agency (www.nopactalent.com)". Archived from the original on 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  8. ↑ "N.Y. Blades Now Jersey Knights". The Montreal Gazette. 1973-11-21. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  9. ↑ "Hockey Database: Harry Howell (www.hockeydb.com)". Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  10. ↑ "NHL Alumni News Archive: New York Rangers honour Harry Howell (www.nhlalumni.com)". Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  11. ↑ "Hockey Hall of Fame: "Stanley Cup Journal" (www.hhof.com)". Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  12. ↑ "TML Fever: Stanley Cup Rings (www.tmlfever.com)". Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  13. ↑ Cohen; Halligan; Raider. 100 Ranger Greats. p. 195.
  14. ↑ "Canada.com: Red's Notebook, Red Fisher of the Gazette (April 12, 2008)". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  15. ↑ David, Dan. "Bathgate, Howell come home to the rafters," newyorkrangers.com, Sunday, February 22, 2009. Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Cohen; Halligan; Raider. 100 Ranger Greats. p. 192.
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