Garry Howatt

Last updated
Garry Howatt
Garry Howatt 1973.jpg
Born (1952-09-26) 26 September 1952 (age 71)
Grand Centre, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
Hartford Whalers
New Jersey Devils
NHL Draft 144th overall, 1972
New York Islanders
Playing career 1972–1984

Garry Robert Charles Howatt (born September 26, 1952) is a Canadian former ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, Hartford Whalers, and New Jersey Devils between 1972 and 1984. With the Islanders Howatt won the Stanley Cup in 1980 and 1981. Howatt was known for his toughness and, due to his small size, had the nickname "Toy Tiger." [1]

Contents

Career

Junior and AHL

Born in Grand Centre (now part of Cold Lake), Alberta, Howatt played one season in the WCHL with the Flin Flon Bombers in 1971-72. He amassed 79 points in 60 games. That year he was drafted into the NHL by the New York Islanders at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. The following year he played with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League, scoring 49 points in 65 games.[ citation needed ]

NHL

Howatt started his National Hockey League career with the New York Islanders in 1972.

Howatt enjoyed his greatest popularity with the Islanders, remaining on the team from their first season, through their formative years of steady improvement, right through to their first two Stanley Cup championships, in 1980 and 1981. Howatt, known along with teammate Bobby Nystrom as a member of the "Dynamic Duo", was a fan favourite admired for his scrappy, energetic style of play. For this reason, Islander fans established a Howatt-Nystrom booster club, called the "Dynamic Duo Fan Club", which was active throughout the 1970s. [2]

When he left the Islanders in 1981, Howatt held the Islanders' career penalty-minutes record (1,466) and career playoffs penalty-minutes record (279). [2] With the Hartford Whalers, Howatt scored a career-high 50 points and was offered a long-term contract and the team's captaincy. However, in his words, "bad advice from some former teammates" led him to request a trade to the New Jersey Devils, and was traded with Rick Meagher for Merlin Malinowski and the rights to Scott Fusco. [3] After squabbling with Devils' management, he played only sporadically before ending his career with the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he helped them win a Calder Cup as their captain. [4] [5]

On January 15, 1983 Howatt, as a member of the Devils, and Mickey Volcan, as a member of the Whalers, became the only active players to officiate an NHL game, when a snowstorm prevented a referee, Ron Fournier, and a linesman, Ron Asselstine, from reaching the Hartford Civic Center for a game between the two teams. [6] [7] The two players stepped down after the first period once the officials arrived. He retired after the 1983–84 NHL season.

Personal life

Howatt suffers from epilepsy and was recognized by the epilepsy community for his grittiness by being awarded the National Epileptic Foundation Man of the Year for 1974. He later resided in New Jersey, where he owned and operated his own business, Mt. Freedom Golf, which he sold in 2010. Howatt now[ when? ] lives in Arizona with his wife and is still active playing hockey with NHL alumni. He is also active in rodeos throughout Arizona, participating in team roping competitions. [1]

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1971–72 Victoria Cougars WCHL 245152036—————
1971–72 Flin Flon Bombers WCHL36243559109741530
1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 801118—————
1972–73 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 65222749157—————
1973–74 New York IslandersNHL7861117204—————
1974–75 New York IslandersNHL771830481211733659
1975–76 New York IslandersNHL8021133419713551023
1976–77 New York IslandersNHL701315281821211228
1977–78 New York IslandersNHL6171219146701162
1978–79 New York IslandersNHL75161228205901118
1979–80 New York IslandersNHL77811192192131484
1980–81 New York IslandersNHL7041519174802215
1981–82 Hartford Whalers NHL80183250242—————
1982–83 New Jersey Devils NHL38145114—————
1982–83 Wichita Wind CHL 110554—————
1983–84 New Jersey DevilsNHL600014—————
1983–84 Maine Mariners AHL6312203212417471146
NHL totals720112156268183687121426289

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Hurricanes</span> National Hockey League team in Raleigh, North Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, and play their home games at PNC Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford Whalers</span> American professional ice hockey team (1972–1997)

The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved 100 miles (160 km), to Hartford, in 1974 and joined the NHL in the NHL–WHA merger of 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Daneyko</span> Ukrainian-Canadian ice hockey player

Kenneth Stephen Daneyko is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played his entire twenty-season career with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), winning three Stanley Cup championships with the team. He has been nicknamed "Mr. Devil" by Devils fans, as he currently holds both the franchise record for games played as a Devil with 1,283 games and in penalty minutes with 2,516. Daneyko now provides colour analysis alongside Bill Spaulding during broadcasts of Devils games on MSG Sportsnet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marek Malík</span> Czech ice hockey player

Marek Malík is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1994 to 2009.

The 1987–88 NHL season was the 71st season of the National Hockey League. It was an 80-game season with the top four teams in each division advancing to the Stanley Cup playoffs. This season would see the Edmonton Oilers win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years by sweeping the Boston Bruins 4–0 in the Stanley Cup Finals. In the process of their Cup win, Edmonton lost only two games, a record for the "16 wins" playoff format.

The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to three in the Cup finals.

The 1985–86 NHL season was the 69th season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the league's Board of Governors introduce the Presidents' Trophy, which would go to the team with the best overall record in the NHL regular season. The Edmonton Oilers would be the first winners of this award.

The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won their second straight Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one in the final series.

The 1983–84 NHL season was the 67th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers de-throned the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders four games to one in the Cup finals.

The 1982–83 NHL season was the 66th season of the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders won their fourth Stanley Cup in a row with their second consecutive finals sweep by beating the Edmonton Oilers four games to none. No team in any major professional North American sport has won four consecutive playoff championships since.

The 1983 NHL Entry Draft was the 21st NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 8, 1983. The NHL Entry Draft is the primary means by which players arrive in the National Hockey League. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in this draft, shortly after the league blocked the franchise's relocation to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This was the only time in National Hockey League history that a franchise did not participate in an entry draft. This was also the last time a playoff team picked first overall until 2020, when the New York Rangers won the first selection.

Gerald Mark Diduck is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Islanders in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Diduck played 932 games in an NHL career that spanned eight different teams from 1984 to 2001. He played for the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Hartford Whalers, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. He is part of hockey lore as the man who ended the career of Islanders legend and teammate Bob Nystrom with an accidental high stick that almost cost Nystrom his eye. Diduck was born in Edmonton, Alberta and now resides in Texas. He is the brother-in-law of professional musician and CKY bassist Matt Deis. Diduck is of Ukrainian ancestry.

Michael Stephen Volcan is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 162 National Hockey League games for the Hartford Whalers and Calgary Flames from 1980 until 1984. He recorded eight goals and 33 assists in his career. Volcan was a third round draft pick, 50th overall by the Whalers in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He was the youngest player in the NHL in the 1980–81 season. Volcan retired following the 1990–91 season.

The 1991–92 Hartford Whalers season saw the Whalers finish in fourth place in the Adams Division with a record of 26 wins, 41 losses, and 13 ties for 65 points. They lost the Adams Division semi-finals in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens, with Russ Courtnall scoring in double overtime of Game 7 at the Montreal Forum to end Hartford's season. This was the last time that the Whalers made the playoffs before moving to Raleigh.

The 1992–93 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' 14th season in the National Hockey League.

The 1983–84 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' fifth season in the National Hockey League.

The 1981–82 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' third season in the National Hockey League.

The 1982–83 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' fourth season in the National Hockey League.

Professional ice hockey in Connecticut has a rich tradition dating from the mid-1920s. Most of these teams were NHL minor league affiliates located in New Haven, though with the closure of the New Haven Coliseum, minor league affiliates now exist only exist in Hartford and Bridgeport. Hartford had its own Major league team, the Whalers team that existed in Hartford from 1974-97. Independent hockey leagues teams have also been gaining a foothold in Danbury starting in 2004.

The 2018–19 NHL season was the 102nd season of operation of the National Hockey League. 31 teams competed in an 82-game regular season. The regular season began on October 3, 2018, and ended on April 6, 2019. The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 10, 2019, and the Stanley Cup Finals concluded on June 12, 2019, with the St. Louis Blues winning their first Stanley Cup in the Finals over the Boston Bruins in seven games.

References

  1. 1 2 Leonard, Pat (2010-09-25). "Brawler Howatt takes his fight to the rodeo". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  2. 1 2 "NYI TOP 10: ENFORCERS 1-5". New York Islanders. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (16 October 1982). "DEVILS GET HOWATT FROM THE WHALERS". New York Times. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Jacobs, Jeff. "Coach John Paddock's Long, Strange Trip To Become The Leader Of The Pack". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Mariners Are Honored". The Lewiston Journal. 19 May 1984. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Whalers Top Devils, 2-1". New York Times. 16 January 1983. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Pinchevsky, Tal. "Volcan, Howatt made NHL history 30 years ago". NHL.com. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.