In an effort to immortalize one of the greatest to have ever played the game, Gordie Howe earned the film treatment. Having aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (home to Hockey Night in Canada) on April 28, Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story highlighted Howe’s return to the game by competing in the World Hockey Association with his sons, Mark and Marty.
Michael Shanks (from Stargate SG-1) portrayed Mr. Hockey in the lead role. Of all the actors in the film, Dylan Playfair is the only one with any hockey background. A former player in the British Columbia Hockey League, his father Jim is an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The tone of the film captures the tensions that existed between the NHL and the WHA. With the loss of Bobby Hull to the WHA, concerns were high about the NHL losing more players to the upstart league.
When Howe makes the decision to join his sons (who were drafted by the WHA’s Houston Aeros), an upcoming scene shifts to Bruce Norris of the Red Wings reacting in anger.
He proceeds to rip Howe’s banner off the wall in Detroit’s front office then yells that all of Howe’s p ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Staffieri
Gordie Howe Film a Great Tribute to Long Forgotten Era of Hockey
April 30th, 2013 by Mark Staffieri Leave a reply »
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