Howie Morenz

This sensational center wore the colors of the Blue, White and Red during twelve seasons. He then played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers before coming back to Montreal and the Canadiens, where he played until the end of his career. He was a high-scorer and in one fantastic season in particular, he scored 40 times in 44 games. In those days, it was really an achievement. During his entire career in the NHL, he totaled 270 goals and was one of the very first players to be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945.

His large eyes overlooked a tough beard. He was remarkably light hearted and represented the typical hero of the 20's. This proud man was colorful and charming. He was considered to be the fastest man on skates, and he was a born competitor. "Toe" Blake was only a rookie when Morenz's career was nearing it's end, but he still remembers theis extraordinary athlete. "He was an inspiration for all of us," Said "Toe," and he added: "his skill was truly remarkable. Howie loved hockey and it was his whole life. He used to work and laugh wholeheartedly."

Morenz was both fast and crafty, and these two qualities were his trademark. One of his friends, Ott Heller, a brilliant player for the New York Rangers, often said: "When Howie was skating at full speeds only he knew how, the other players of both teams seemed to be skating backwards. His shot was not to be disregarded since he would always shoot without warning."

Even though he never weighed more than 170 pounds, Morenz would always hit with all his heart and might . . . like a giant. He was a complete hockey player. Of German descent, Howie was born in the small village of Mitchell, Ontario, and fourteen years later, he came to Stratford with his parents.

It was during an amateur game played at Montreal in 1922, where he scored nine goals, that he attracted the attention of the Canadiens' management. Leo Dandurand, the popular sportsman and co-owner of the team, offered him a $1,000 bonus the following year, and Morenz moved to Montreal to wear the Blue, White and Red uniform.

Morenz maintained a fast and jovial demeanor even outside the rink. Although he loved to sing, he also played the ukelele, a very popular instrument in those days. A real fashion follower, he would change clothes two or three times a day. For Howie Morenz, Montreal was paradise.

However, youth does not last forever, and after spending eleven seasons with the Canadiens, Howie was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in 1934, and then played with the New York Rangers the following year. In 1936, the Canadiens bought his contract back to allow him to finish his career wearing the uniform he defended so well.

Howie felt perfectly at home wearing the Canadiens' jersey, and he was making an excellent comeback when he met with a tragic accident. During a game against the Chicago Black Hawks at the Forum on the night of January 28, 1937, Morenz broke four bones in his left leg and ankle. He seemed to be totally cured five weeks later and he was going to leave the hospital to go home when he suffered a relapse. He died from an embolism. His funeral was held in the Forum in front of more than 12,000 people, while almost as many people were outside the building to pay their respects to their hero.

So began one newspaper account of the unique funeral of a gallant hockey star - Howie Morenz. The place was the Montreal Forum. The date was March 11, 1937.

"Howie will lie over the centre ice circle, guarded by his teammates and the men he first broke into professional hockey with 15 years ago. In that circle Morenz countless times had faced off the puck and cannonaded down the rink with the speed and skill that made him one of the game's greatest."

At the Forum, jammed to capacity with his devoted fans, Morenz's flower-banked bier was passed by seemingly endless line of fans and friends. Many wiped tears from their eyes as they came to pay their respects to a magnificent athlete. Banked along the walls were floral tributes from near and far. There were even floral "sevens" - his uniform number, a numeral that, in retirement, would never grace the back of any other Canadien. There were also two floral hockey sticks. One was from the "boys in the balcony" at the Boston Garden, fans who had jeered him and grudgingly cheered him. The other was from Joe Choquette, who lovingly made the sticks Morenz played with.

When asked to comment, Canadiens manager Cecil Hart sobbed, "It's just terrible. I can't talk about it. I have known and loved him since I first signed him to a Canadiens' contract in 1922."

"No one can ever take his place with us," said Aurel Joliat, his tiny linemate.

"He was the greatest of all time," lamented Leaf coach Dick Irvin, "and the world of hockey will seem bereft without him."

Toronto owner Conn Smythe said, "The news is so shocking I can hardly credit it. I guess the old machine, one of the grandest hearts ever fabricated in a hockey frame, just broke up. He will be missed by hockey men everywhere. To Canadiens it comes as a paralyzing blow."

While his body lay in state, while young and old shuffled quietly past his resting place to view one final time the still features of hockey's greatest hero, fans in other arenas both large and small paused to reflect on the deeds of the departed Morenz. In Boston, New York, Vancouver, and Winnipeg - and Stratford, Ontario, his hometown - the roll of muffled drums was heard. Chins dropped to chests as people stood in silence, each acutely aware that a red-shirted, balding superstar had somehow captured a piece of their heart.

Earlier in the 1936-37 season, on January 28, Montreal's 6-5 victory over Chicago had been overshadowed by an alarming incident in the first period. Morenz darted after a puck and was bodychecked by Earl Seibert. The former's skate blade caught in a crack in the boards, and with his skate embedded there, Morenz's leg twisted around and snapped with a crack that could be heard throughout the arena. He went down, writhing in pain. In an instant his season was over - and almost surely his career as well.

Earl Seibert, the six-foot three Blackhawk defenceman, a gentle giant who would become a Hall-of-Famer, shouldered the blame for the Morenz tragedy. "I was the guy who killed him," he said. "I didn't mean to hurt him but I gave him the bodycheck. I pinned him to the boards when his skate got caught and he fell. I was stunned when I heard he'd died. I simply couldn't believe it. He was the greatest all-round player in the game." Seibert was absolved of all blame and did not receive a penalty on the play.

So highly regarded was Morenz that a rival coach once ordered his players not to hit him during a game. In New York one night, Morenz skated out to face the Rangers. New York coach Lester Patrick admonished his players: "Don't hit Morenz tonight. The little guy is nursing a leg so sore he shouldn't be playing. He only dressed because he knows the New York fans are anxious to see him perform. So get in his way but go easy on him and his gimpy leg."

For 14 years Morenz was one of the most dynamic figures in the game. He scored 270 career goals, and with Aurel Joliat and Johnny Gagnon as his wingmates he soared to unparalleled hockey heights.

On the day after Morenz's sudden death, Andy Lytle wrote an obituary in the Toronto Star.