Gordie Howe was a physical phenomenon, playing in the NHL longer than anyone else. Now, his son Mark Howe reveals how his father built his physique: by carrying cement bags, after his father Al had bet how much he could carry.
Few players—if any—have had a more fitting nickname in NHL history: Mr. Hockey. Gordie Howe was ice hockey. With 1,767 games played, 1,850 points, and four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, his accomplishments speak for themselves.
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Gordie Howe shaped the game
With his talent, competitiveness, and sharp elbows, Gordie Howe helped shape the game of hockey as we know it today. The modern hockey player follows a strict diet and a customized workout plan. But during Gordie Howe’s era, the reality of being a professional hockey player looked very different. The pay was significantly lower, and many players worked on the side—especially during the summer, when no hockey was played. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, Gordie Howe worked in construction with his father, something he continued to do even after becoming a professional hockey player. It also served as perfect off-season training, especially since his father was a betting man.
Special summer training
Appearing as a guest on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Mark Howe revealed the secret behind his father’s extraordinary physique:
“He used to go back home, and his father—my grandpa Al—was in charge of paving all the sidewalks and some of the streets in Saskatoon back in the day. So when Dad went home in the summer, he’d be lifting cement bags all summer. Grandpa used to put him under pressure. They’d have four 80-pound bags, and he’d bet someone, saying, ‘I bet you my son can lift these all at once.’ He’d bet a nickel or a dime, which was a lot of money back then. Then he’d look at my dad and say, ‘Don’t let me down.’ I think Dad had double hernia surgery a couple of years later, but he was just a beast of a man,” Mark Howe recalled on the podcast.
You can watch the incredible story below.
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