Former professional hockey player with the Detroit Red Wings Gordie Howe had quite the Friday night last week, being invited to a dinner party at the Painted Hand Casino before heading to the PowWow festival later that evening held at Yorkton's Gallagher Centre.
Also accompanying the hockey great was his grandson Travis.
"It's an honour to have Mr. Howe to be part of our culture. It's pretty exciting," says Rob Bear, operations manager at the Yorkton casino.
"We are honouring Gordie with a special presentation (as well)," says Bear. The casino staff presented Howe, one of the greatest to ever play the game, with a pair of moccasins decorated with the Detroit Red Wings logo.
Bear said the stop in Yorkton came as a result of meeting both the hockey great as well as his grandson at a golf tournament some time ago. Howe's grandson Travis made a few phone calls which landed Mr. Hockey in Yorkton for a one-night stay, enabling him to take in a special dinner at the Painted Hand Casino before heading to the PowWow later that night.
"(They) gave me a heads-up," explains Bear, who was asked if the Casino would be interested in hosting the visit.
"We are very excited to have him here today."
Mr. Hockey's stay in Yorkton started only about 45 minutes before he arrived at the Casino, where about 80 guests were treated to dinner and a slideshow presentation of Howe's numerous National Hockey League's accomplishments, including having been a professional hockey player in one of the League's strongest-ever markets, Motown (Detroit).
"We are very excited to have him here.
Howe, who has recently decided to opt away from media interviews not long ago, had his grandson Travis who has been traveling alongside the hockey great. Travis Howe told the paper that it was a decision by the family to try and keep his grandfather busy following a recent death in the family. Travis said constant roadtrips to functions such as the Yorkton stop Friday, are a good way to do that.
"It's kind of an opportunity to do a lot of things together. This is one of the last trips (Gordie) is going to do. Everybody's goal is to keep him busy."
Travis added that he was recently in Saskatoon where his grandfather was presented with an honourary doctor's degree and that both he and his famous grandfather were interested in making the stop in Yorkton. The younger Howe added that following a return trip to Saskatoon the following day (Saturday), the two were headed back to the American town that made the hockey star a hockey star. Travis added that he is the only member of the Howe family who currently resides in Michigan.
Part of the night included the usual autograph session known to accompany the athletes. Travis said his grandfather is usually greeted by a very warm welcoming, but made the interesting point that it can also vary.
"He always gets a warm reception but I guess it also depends on where he goes."Howe's hockey background has also had an obvious influence on getting the rest of the family involved in hockey to some capacity, Travis said. Mark Howe currently works as a scouting agent for the Red Wings, Marty Howe is an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves, and Travis himself currently works on developing hockey players.
"Honestly, it's an advantage" to be part of a name synonymous with hockey, claims Travis. "People think very highly of him."
He added that the response in Yorkton was typical of most greetings the former hockey star gets.
"It's the small town feeling," says Travis. "People are genuine and it's a warm feeling."
During his illustrious career, 'Mr. Hockey' played on six teams. The Omaha Knights, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers, and Detroit Vipers.
His late wife was nicknamed 'Mrs. Hockey'.
In a feat unsurpassed by any other athlete in any other sport, Howe finished in the top five in league scoring for 20 straight seasons.
