Hockey greats: three players you should know

Ice hockey is a North American sport that descends from a similar European sport. Like American football and baseball, it took root in the new world and became more popular than its ancestor. The official birth of the game dates back to Montreal, Canada, in 1875, where it was played on a track the same size as those used today. In over a century of competition, many gaming titans have risen and dominated to take their place in the pantheon of greats. These three titans stand out among all the other luminaries as the best to ever lace up a pair of skates.

wayne gretzky

You don’t get the nickname “the big one” for nothing. Wayne Gretzky is not the Michael Jordan of hockey, Michael Jordan is the Wayne Gretzky of basketball. He dominated his sport like few other athletes. Gretzky scored over 200 points (goals plus assists) in a single season in four separate years; no other player has done it once. He won the Stanley Cup four times and was named Most Valuable Player nine times. When he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, he instantly turned Southern California into a rabid fan that sparked interest in the game in the early 1990s. He retired with a National Hockey League-record 61 and nearly two decades later, still has 60 of them.

Gordie Howe

While Wayne Gretzky was a strong advocate of fighting in hockey; Gordie Howe spoke with his fists. When a player scores a goal, provides an assist, and gets into a fight, NHL fans call it the “Gordie Howe hat trick.” However, he and Gretzky were more alike than different. Howe is the only other player to break the 800-goal mark in his career. Howe’s toughness, determination and muscle embodied what Canadians love about their national winter sport. Gretzky broke most of the records he set, but Howe’s 26 seasons in the league still put him ahead of everyone else.

bobby orr

Bobby Orr may be the odd man out on this list as the lone defender, but his style of play was just as valuable as the prolific scorers. He won three straight league MVP trophies and was no slouch as a scorer either. He revolutionized the way defensemen attack on power plays and still holds the record for most goals and points by a defenseman in a single season. He is also the only defenseman to lead the league in scoring for a season. Orr is best known for “the goal,” a hit-and-run shot that Orr gave the Boston Bruins their first Stanley Cup. Even casual hockey fans are familiar with the photo of a lush, horizontal Orr soaring through the air after scoring the biggest goal in Bruins history.

Future generations may take their place, but these legends will live on.