As a young player heading to his first training camp, the world can seem very big. That was certainly the case for 18-year-old Kelly Chase when he traveled to Hartford for training camp. By chance, he ran into Gordie Howe at the airport, and Howe shared some advice that Chase still remembers to this day.
“You got to make sure they know who you are, son,” Howe told Chase.
Kelly Chase is a St. Louis Blues legend, and throughout his career, he was known as one of the toughest players in the league. During his 11 NHL seasons, Chase played for the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He appeared in 458 games and racked up 2,017 penalty minutes.
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Kelly Chase met Gordie Howe
But when Kelly Chase was just starting out, he received an invitation to attend training camp with the Hartford Whalers. The 18-year-old Saskatchewan native traveled alone to Toronto. At Toronto airport, Chase spotted Gordie Howe at the gate.
“I can’t believe I was looking at Gordie Howe. Finally, I got enough mustard in me and I walked over. I said, ‘Mr. Howe, my name is Kelly Chas, I just wanna thank you. I played baseball at Gordie Howe Park, I played football in Gordie Howe Bowl, and I played hockey in Gordie Howe Arena. Thanks for everything you have done for us kids in Saskatchewan,’” Chase recalled on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
Howe’s priceless advice
Gordie Howe invited the young traveler to sit down and asked where he was headed.
“I said, ‘I’m going to Hartford with you. I’m going to camp.’ He asked which round I got drafted in, and I said I went undrafted and was a free agent. Then our flight got canceled. A lady asked if we were together, and he goes, ‘Yeah, we’re rooming together.’ We go up to the room, and he says, ‘Throw your bags in the room and let’s go have a steak and a beer.’ So we’re sitting there talking, and he says, ‘You got to make sure they know who you are, son. They didn’t draft you, so no scout is going to say, “Let’s go for this kid.” You got to make sure they know exactly who you are,’” Chase explained.
Felt an arm on his shoulder
Kelly Chase arrived at camp and got into a fight on the very first day. In doing so, he angered some of the veteran players. The next day, all he did was fight. Players came after him shift after shift, and Chase got beaten badly. Even the coach wouldn’t let him off the ice.
Afterward, a bruised-up Kelly Chase climbed onto the bus back to the hotel, convinced he had just ruined his chances of playing in the NHL. But then something happened.
“This big old arm comes in front of me. ‘Hey kid, they fucking know who you are now,’” Chase recalled.
It was Mr. Hockey himself. He had seen that Chase had taken his advice to heart.
You can watch the story below.
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