Howie Morenz
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Howard "Howie" William Morenz, known as both The Stratford Streak and The Mitchell Meteor (June 21, 1902-March 8, 1937 in Mitchell, Ontario, Canada) was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He played mostly for the Montreal Canadiens from 1923 to 1934 and for the Chicago Blackhawks 1934 to 1935 and the New York Rangers 1935-1936 then again for Montreal 1936-1937.
Considered by many old-timers to be the greatest hockey player in hockey history, Howie Morenz was a three-time winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player and a two-time scoring leader (prior to the introduction of the Art Ross Trophy).
Howie filled arenas like no one had before. His blazing speed electrified crowds wherever he played. When an exhibition game was held in Boston to see if hockey could work there, Charles F. Adams applied for a franchise in Boston. When Tex Rickard watched Howie in action, he got Big Bill Dwyer to get a New York franchise and insisted that Howie and the Montreal Canadiens be the opponent in the New York Americans first home game. From there, Boston and New York were sold on hockey. Capacity crowds greeted Howie and the Canadiens when they played in NHL cities.
His career ended on January 28, 1937 when he suffered a multiple fracture broken leg, during a home game versus the Chicago Blackhawks. The injury did more than to just end his career, as it eventually took his life as a result of complications on March 8, 1937. The Montreal Forum was turned into a shrine where a memorial was held for his thousands of loyal fans. He was one of the first to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945. He was also inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. His jersey number (#7) was retired on November 2, 1937.
In 1950, Howie Morenz was voted the outstanding hockey player of the first half-century by a national press poll.
Howie Morenz is interred in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal, Quebec. His daughter Marlene is the widow of fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie Geoffrion.
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