Harry Howell (ice hockey)

Harry Howell
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1979
Born December 28, 1932
Hamilton, ON, CAN
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
Oakland Seals
Los Angeles Kings
New York Golden Blades
New Jersey Knights
San Diego Mariners
Calgary Cowboys
Playing career 19521976

Henry Vernon Howell (born December 28, 1932) is a former professional hockey player and longtime star for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario.[1] A stalwart, stay at home defenceman, in 1967 Howell was the last player in the pre-expansion era to win the Norris Trophy,[2] and famously said that he was glad he won the trophy then, because Bobby Orr (who finished second that year) would "own" the Norris for some time to come (as it turned out, Orr would win the trophy for the next eight seasons in a row).[3]

Howell's playing weight was 195 and he stood 6 foot 1 inches tall. He played seventeen years wearing number 3 for the Rangers[4] then he played another eight years in professional hockey; two with Oakland/California Seals, three with the Los Angeles Kings, and one each with three WHA teams: New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights, San Diego Mariners, and Calgary Cowboys.[5]

Howell played 1411 NHL games and 170 WHA games, scoring 101 goals and 360 assists for 461 points.[6]

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 defenceman than anyone else, and remains sixth in all time games played as a defenseman. He also holds the record for most games played in the NHL wearing the same New York Rangers sweater: 1160.[6]

After retirement, he went on to coach the Minnesota North Stars in the 1978-79 season. Also in 1979, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[7]

In 1990, he finally won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Edmonton Oilers when he served as a scout.[8]

Howell's #3, along with Andy Bathgate's #9, was retired by the New York Rangers during a special ceremony prior to the February 22, 2009 match versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.[9][10]

Also in 2009, Howell was ranked No. 10 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons).

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1951–52Guelph BiltmoresOHA511720370
1951–52Cincinnati MohawksAHL10000
1952–53Guelph BiltmoresOHA52240
1952–53New York RangersNHL67381146
1953–54New York RangersNHL67791658
1954–55New York RangersNHL702141687
1955–56New York RangersNHL70315187750114
1956–57New York RangersNHL65210127051016
1957–58New York RangersNHL7047116261018
1958–59New York RangersNHL7041014101
1959–60New York RangersNHL67761358
1960–61New York RangersNHL707101762
1961–62New York RangersNHL66615218960118
1962–63New York RangersNHL705202555
1963–64New York RangersNHL705313675
1964–65New York RangersNHL682202263
1965–66New York RangersNHL704293392
1966–67New York RangersNHL701228405440004
1967–68New York RangersNHL74524296261010
1968–69New York RangersNHL5647113620000
1969–70Oakland SealsNHL55416205240112
1970–71California Golden SealsNHL2809914
1970–71Los Angeles KingsNHL1838114
1971–72Los Angeles KingsNHL771171853
1972–73Los Angeles KingsNHL734111528
1973–74New York Golden Blades/Jersey KnightsWHA653232624
1974–75San Diego MarinersWHA744101428510110
1975–76Calgary CowboysWHA31033620002
NHL totals 1411 94 324 418 1298 38 3 3 6 32

NHL/WHA Coaching record

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
New Jersey Knights (WHA)1973–74 5826302(54)6th in EastMissed playoffs
San Diego Mariners (WHA)1974–75 7843314902nd in WestLost in Semi-Finals
Minnesota North Stars (NHL)1978–79 11362(8)4th in Adams(resigned)

See also

Images

References

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Jacques Laperrière
Winner of the Norris Trophy
1967
Succeeded by
Bobby Orr
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Don Raleigh
New York Rangers captain
195557
Succeeded by
George Sullivan
Preceded by
Bill McCreary, Sr.
General Manager of the Cleveland Barons
1977–78
Succeeded by
Position abolished
Preceded by
Lou Nanne
Head coach of the Minnesota North Stars
1978
Succeeded by
Glen Sonmor