Harry Howell (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Howell was born in Hamilton, Ontario, to a father who worked as a furrier. He played youth hockey with the Hamilton Police Minor League and attended Westdale Secondary School and Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute. He broke in with the Guelph Biltmores, a Rangers farm team, in 1950 and won the 1952 Memorial Cup with them. He joined the Rangers as one of fourteen rookies for the 1952–53 season, scoring his first goal accidentally on a backhand shot that went over goaltender Harry Lumley's shoulder. He was named captain in 1955 but gave up the role after two seasons, feeling he played poorly. A stay-at-home defenceman, he relied on hockey sense and positioning, playing at least 50 games in each of his first eighteen seasons. In 1966–67, he reached career highs in goals (12) and points (40), crediting powerplay teammate Bernie Geoffrion for passing him the puck and telling him to shoot. On January 21, 1967, he became the first Ranger to play 1,000 games, and the team held 'Harry Howell Night' on January 25, 1967. He was the last pre-expansion winner of the Norris Trophy, famously saying that Boston's Bobby Orr would 'own this trophy from now on.' He played seventeen years wearing number 3 for the Rangers. Back problems led to spinal-fusion surgery before the 1969–70 season; he was sold to the Oakland Seals on June 10, 1969, then traded to the Los Angeles Kings mid-1970–71. Released in July 1973, he joined the WHA's New York Golden Blades, becoming player-coach after seven games when the team moved to become the Jersey Knights. The team moved again to become the San Diego Mariners, with Howell as player-coach; they won a playoff series in 1975 before he was fired in June 1975. He played his final season as a player with the Calgary Cowboys in 1975–76.

Reader's Guide

Howell's significance lies in his longevity and defensive reliability. He played 1,411 NHL games, the most by a defenceman at the time of his departure, and still holds the Rangers franchise record of 1,160 games. His 1967 Norris Trophy win marked the end of an era, as Bobby Orr dominated the award for the next eight seasons. Despite individual success, playoff victory eluded him; the Rangers lost in the first round each time he played, and his only postseason series win came with the San Diego Mariners in the 1975 WHA playoffs. After retiring, he served as general manager of the Cleveland Barons for the 1977–78 season and coached the Minnesota North Stars for 11 games in 1978–79 before resigning. He scouted for the North Stars and later for the Edmonton Oilers, earning a Stanley Cup ring in 1990. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. His jersey was retired by the Rangers on February 22, 2009, alongside Andy Bathgate. In 2014, the North Wentworth Community Centre in Flamborough, Ontario was renamed the Harry Howell Arena. He was also honored by Canada Post as the Rangers representative on an 'Original Six' stamp. Emile Francis said of him, 'Hockey is a game of mistakes, and Harry doesn't make many of them.' Brad Park noted that Howell treated him as an equal during training camp. Howell died on March 9, 2019, at age 86, after living with Alzheimer's disease.

Did You Know?

• He held the record for most NHL games played by a defenceman (1,411) at the time of his departure.
• He earned a Stanley Cup ring as a scout for the Edmonton Oilers in 1990.