The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: A Hockey Tribute with Goal, Assist, and Fight

The 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' is a special accomplishment in hockey, named after the legendary Gordie Howe. This 'hat trick' does not refer to three goals, but rather the combination of a goal, an assist, and a fight in a single game. This feat highlights a player's ability to contribute in different facets of the game, from offense to physical aggression. The term is a recognition of the versatility and toughness that Howe demonstrated throughout his career.

Recognition of players and coaches is common in hockey, such as the James Norris Trophy or the Ted Lindsay Award. The 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' is a symbol of complete excellence in the sport.

Although Gordie Howe only achieved this 'hat trick' twice, the term bears his name because of his complete game. Howe was an offensive force, accumulating 801 goals and 1,049 assists in 1,767 regular season games. He was also known for his physical play, with 1,685 penalty minutes in his career. The combination of offensive skill and physical aggression is what defines the 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick'.

Glenn Hall commented on the 'hat trick', saying that Howe 'just kicked the [butt] of the tough guys and then didn't have to fight'. The first recorded 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' was on October 11, 1953, when Howe played for the Red Wings against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In that historic game, Howe assisted on the first goal of the game, scored his own goal, and then got involved in a fight against Fern Flaman. This event solidified Howe's legacy and gave rise to the name of the 'hat trick'. Howe's second and last 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' occurred five months later, also against the Maple Leafs. On this occasion, he faced Ted Kennedy in a fight. These two occasions demonstrate the combination of skill and toughness that characterized Howe.

The repetition of this achievement in less than a year underlines Howe's ability to excel in all aspects of the game. The 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' became a symbol of complete excellence in hockey.

In the history of the NHL, situations have been seen where two players achieve the 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' in the same game, known as a 'double Gordie'. On March 9, 2010, Fedor Tyutin and Ryan Getzlaf achieved this feat. On January 10, 2012, Adam Henrique and Jarome Iginla also achieved it. In addition, a 'triple Gordie Howe Hat Trick' has been recorded, where three players achieved the feat in a single game.

On November 14, 1992, Tom Fitzgerald, Wayne Presley and Benoit Hogue achieved this rare combination. These events highlight the physical and competitive nature of hockey.

Rick Tocchet is the all-time leader in 'Gordie Howe Hat Tricks', with 18 in his career. Brendan Shanahan and Brian Sutter follow closely with 17 each. Other notable players on the list include Wilf Paiement (16), Cam Neely (12), Jarome Iginla (11) and Keith Tkachuk (10).

Jamie Benn is the active leader with five 'hat tricks'. Evander Kane has four and Milan Lucic, Marcus Foligno and Corey Perry have three. These numbers reflect the dedication and performance of these players.

In addition to the 'doubles' and 'triples', there have been curious moments related to the 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick'. In a 1981 playoff game, three players achieved the 'hat trick', and two of them fought each other. Another unusual case occurred in 2014, when Steve Pinizzotto scored his first NHL goal as part of his 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick'.

These events demonstrate the unpredictable and exciting nature of hockey. The 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' remains a symbol of versatility and toughness in the sport.