REMEMBERING HARRY HOWELL (1932-2019)

In the history of the New York Rangers, one defenceman is in the spotlight when it comes to longevity and his name is Harry Howell.

He skated in his first NHL game on October 18, 1952, when the Rangers faced the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Howell, along with Andy Bathgate and Dean Prentice, were called up from the OHA Guelph Biltmores. The Biltmores won the Memorial Cup the previous spring. All three were summoned on a three game try-out. Howell was placed in the line-up to replace an injured Leo Reise. And Howell made the most of his chance to stick with the big league club. On his very first shift, he scored against Toronto goalie, Harry Lumley. He told the New York Times, "It was a screen shot and screen shots are a matter of luck. You just try to miss the pair of legs in front of you and hope for the best."

On October 23, 1952, New York general manager, Frank Boucher, announced that Howell would sign a pro contract and remain with the Rangers. He was named team captain in 1955 and wore the 'C' for two seasons.

A constant presence on the Rangers blueline, Howell's career reached its peak during the 1966-67 season. But trade talks in May 1966, almost resulted in Howell becoming a Toronto Maple Leaf. In exchange for Howell, the Rangers would've received Carl Brewer, who no longer was playing for the Leafs.  

And it was good fortune for the Rangers, as by all measurers, Howell earned the accolades and accomplishments that came his way in the final year of the Original Six era.

Howell started the season by contributing on offence. In an early November contest at Boston Garden against the Bruins, he scored two goals. As a UPI story noted, "Howell, who had scored only six times in the past two full seasons, beat goalie Bernie Parent on long drives in the first and third periods."

When the All-Star balloting took place for the first-half of the 1966-67 campaign, Howell topped the count list to be named a First Team All-Star. He told a reporter, "My defensive play this season has been the same as last year, but it'll help (earning votes) that I'm near the top in scoring."

At the same time Howell's play was being recognized around the NHL, the Rangers honoured him with a special night on January 25, 1967. Arthur Daley of The New York Times wrote, "The Rangers will hold a Harry Howell Night at Madison Square Garden tonight and thus pay a hometown tribute to an indestructible workhorse who will be playing game No. 1002 for the Broadway Blues, a longevity record."

Unfortunately for Ranger fans, their club was swept by Montreal in the semi-finals. But they could still cheer for Harry Howell as he was honoured for his work.

The first reason to cheer, came with the news that after a second round of voting, he would join Chicago's Pierre Pilote on the First All-Star Team. On January 16, 1968, Howell and his All-Star teammates were defeated 4-3 by the Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs.

The second reason to cheer revolved around an award given to Howell by the National Hockey League. At the Stanley Cup luncheon held in Toronto on April 28, 1967, Howell was presented the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman. He beat out Pilote and Boston rookie Bobby Orr for this prestige award. In his address to those gathered at the luncheon, Howell couldn't help but mention Orr. "I'm glad I won it this year. For the next few years, at least, they'll have to rename it the 'Bobby Orr' award because that young man in Boston will own it." Over the next eight seasons, Orr would capture the Norris Trophy.

After 17 seasons on Broadway, Howell's run on hockey's biggest stage came to a close. On June 10, 1969, he was sold to the Oakland Seals. A nagging back injury limited his game action to 56 games in his final year as a Ranger.

Howell spent a season and a half with the Seals before being moved to the Los Angeles Kings. In the spring of 1972, he was courted by the World Hockey Association New York Raiders to serve as their head coach. But instead of jumping to the new league, Howell did an about turn and signed to play for the Los Angeles Kings.

On July 18, 1973, Howell, now 40, returned to New York after signing a two-year contract to skate for the WHA New York Golden Blades. The Kings wanted him to coach their farm team in Portland (WHL), but Howell felt he had some gas felt in the tank. "I'm feeling very well, my legs and back aren't hurting me ... I feel like I'd like to continue playing for another two years. New York was my first choice."

His return to New York didn't go as planned. On November 20, 1973, it was announced that the New York Golden Blades had gone bankrupt. They were unable to pay their bills at Madison Square Garden. To stay afloat, the club moved to New Jersey and were renamed the Knights. A shake-up in the front office resulted in coach Camille Henry being moved to the assistant general manager post and Harry Howell became the player-coach.

Unable to fill the seats, the Knights headed west to San Diego and the Mariners were born. Howell remained in his role as player-coach, but was canned by Mariners owner Joseph Schwartz on June 13, 1975. "Fine man, good coach," Schwartz said of Howell.

On September 4, 1975, Howell told the hockey world that he was ending his time as a player. "Hockey has been my life and I'd like to stay in the game in some capacity," he told the Canadian Press.

Howell's absence didn't last long. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, he decided in December 1975 to accept an offer from the WHA Calgary Cowboys to join their blueline. At the age of 43, Howell played in 31 contests for the Cowboys, then called it quits for good.

Like many in the game, Howell exchanged his uniform for a two-piece suit. "Harry is considered to be one of the finest hockey men in the nation and the Barons are indeed fortunate to acquire his services," noted general manager Bill McCreary upon hiring Howell as assistant general manager of the NHL Cleveland Barons. He joined the Barons on September 10, 1976.

When the Gund brothers took control of the Cleveland Barons in June of 1977, they bumped Howell to the GM spot. After his first year as the Barons general manager, Howell took on a new assignment.

In the spring of 1978, Howell took on the challenge of coaching Team Canada in the World Championships held in Prague. He guided Team Canada, which was composed of NHL players eliminated from the first-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, to a bronze medal. Howell's squad was led by the forward line of  Pat Hickey (Rangers), Marcel Dionne (Kings) and Jean Pronovost (Penguins).

Upon his return to Canada, Howell spoke about his experience "If we have to play in Europe, we'll have to stress the European style and use it. We'd need to have a team together one month ahead of time, practicing on a large ice surface. I was happy with the team we had. They all had desire and all of them wanted to go and do their best."

Howell's journey behind the bench of Team Canada was a hint of things to come.

When the Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars merged, Howell found himself behind the North Stars bench. He was named head coach of Minnesota for the upcoming 1978-79 season. But the bloom on Howell's coaching career didn't last long in Bloomington, Minnesota.

On November 19, 1978, Howell stepped down as coach of the North Stars. "I just wasn't happy being a coach. Most guys coach at the junior level or in the minor pros first and know what it's like. I didn't have that groundwork. This was my first crack at coaching (not as a player-coach) and I just didn't feel comfortable with it. There was no pressure."

Howell stayed with Minnesota and ultimately became chief scout. It was Howell's scouting department that recommended the North Stars select Mike Modano in the 1988 Entry Draft. Modano went on to become one of the most talented and skilled players in the history of the Minnesota-Dallas franchise. Unfortunately for Howell and his fellow scouts, including former Montreal goalie Gump Worsley, the entire department, but for Glen Sonmor, were let go right after the draft.

Not one to feel sorry for himself, Howell was back in the game when Glen Sather hired him as scout with the Edmonton Oilers. When the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1990, Howell finally had his name engraved on the Cup. Also, Sather and Howell worked together in New York after Sather left the Oilers.

Harry (Henry) Vernon "Harry the Horse" Howell passed away on March 9, 2019.

In a statement by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmam, he noted, "As the New York Rangers' all-time leader in games played, Harry the Horse was the definition of dependability, missing only 17 games in his first 16 seasons with the Blueshirts. Howell won the Norris Trophy in 1966-67 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 following an NHL career that comprised 1,411 games over 21 seasons. In 2009, the Rangers retired his jersey No. 3 to the rafters of Madison Square Garden."

Glen Sather observed, "Today, the New York Rangers and the hockey world are saddened to hear of the passing of legendary Blueshirt, Harry Howell. One of the most iconic players in franchise history, Harry's Hall of Fame accomplishments on the ice were exceeded only by the tremendous gentleman he was off the ice."