Howie Morenz: "The Babe Ruth of Hockey"

On January 28, 1937 Morenz’s career ended when he was tripped along the boards and somehow his skate got trapped in the boards. Chicago defenseman Earl Siebert accidentally fell on Morenz. His left leg and ankle were broken in four places.

At first, his recovery went nicely. However, after a steady stream of visitors, Morenz suffered a breakdown and visitors were restricted to family and Hart.

On March 8, 1937, the team physician, Dr. J.A. Hector Forgues, took x-rays of Morenz’s leg and discovered blood clots. He scheduled surgery for the next day. It was too late.  Morenz died that night at the age of 34.

His funeral was held at center ice in a packed Forum and broadcast all over Canada. He was an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame in 1945 and 60 years after his death he was ranked 15th on the list of all-time greatest hockey players. Most, if not all, of the experts that voted for him had never seen him play.

Morenz had played 14 seasons, accumulating 270 goals, 197 assists, 3 MVPS, two scoring championships and 3 Stanley Cups. When Boston was debating a hockey team, his play in an exhibition game there caused Charles F. Adams to apply for the Boston franchise. When Tex Rickard saw Morenz play, he got Big Bill Dwyer to get the New York team and insisted that the Canadiens be their first opponent. Wherever Morenz played there was a full house cheering him on.

His number, 7, was the first Montreal retired. It was retired on November 2, 1937.

His daughter was married to Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion and when Geoffrion’s number was retired on the night of his death, the team lowered Morenz’s banner halfway to the ice as Geoffrion’s was raised. Once the two banners reached each other, they were then raised together.

Perhaps the awe of Morenz in action was best summed up by another hockey great, Eddie Shore: “(Morenz) had a heart that was unsurpassed in athletic history and no one ever came close to him in the colour department. After you watched Howie you wanted to see him often, and as much as I liked to play hockey, I often thought I would have counted it a full evening had I been able to sit in the stands and watch the Morenz maneuvers. Such an inclination never occurred to me about other stars."

And that makes me wonder, how many of us now can honestly say that? Granted, we have been witness to Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Rocket Richard, and a few others but has there been any player as complete and electrifying as Howie Morenz?

The answer, I think, is no. (To Be Continued)

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