Saskatoon students write Gordie Howe get well letters
CBC News | Posted: November 17, 2014 11:30 AM | Last Updated: November 17, 2014
Howe, 86, the school's most famous alumnus, is recovering after suffering a stroke.
More than 100 students from Saskatoon's King George Community School are penning get well letters to send to the school's most famous alumnus, hockey legend Gordie Howe.
Howe suffered a stroke in October. His family reports he's made good progress but still has a long recovery ahead.\
The children hope their letters will help boost the spirits of the former King George student..
Dear Mr. Howe, my name is Emma. I'm in grade four and I go to King George School. I know you went to King George School just like me. I hope you get better soon. - Emma, age 9
Karly Lauzon is in Grade 6 at King George and is one of the students who wrote to the man commonly referred to as Mr. Hockey.
"He's awesome and I really think he's the best hockey player ever," she said.
Lauzon said Howe's success in hockey has taught her never to give up on her dreams.
"I want to be a girl hockey player... or I want to be a doctor so I can help hockey players," she said.
Emma is in Grade 4, but couldn't remember how to spell her last name. Her letter reads: "Dear Mr. Howe, my name is Emma. I'm in grade four and I go to King George School. I know you went to King George School just like me. I hope you get better soon."
Nearly every student at the school is sending a letter to the 86-year-old hockey legend.
Howe played 26 seasons in the NHL, winning four Stanley Cups, six Art Ross Tropies for leading the league in scoring, and six Hart Trophies as the league's most valuable player.
When he retired in 1980, he was the NHL's career leader in goals, assists, and points. Wayne Gretzky later broke each of those records.
School proud of its historical connection to Mr. Hockey
Dustin Millar teaches Grades 6 and 7 at the school and helps coach in Saskatoon's Kinsmen Hockey League. He said hockey is a part of the school's culture.
"KHL is a community hockey league in which we support the children with equipment, ice time, and often we take children that have never played hockey and we teach them how to play. It really becomes a part of who they are," Millar said.
There's also a historical connection between Howe and the school.
"Gordie Howe was a student at King George. That was the rink he first started playing hockey in. We're very proud to have that historical connection and we want to keep celebrating that," Millar said.
"We're obviously thinking about him and hoping that he continues to progress and get better," he added.
On top of the letters, the school is sending two KHL jerseys bearing Howe's number nine. It hopes Howe will send one back with an autograph so it can hang in the school along with other memorabilia.
The Howe family has offered an address for well-wishers to send cards and letters:
Gordie Howe
c/o Texas Trailer Corral
12207 HWY 87
Lubbock, TX 79423
c/o Texas Trailer Corral
12207 HWY 87
Lubbock, TX 79423
Tune into CBC's Saskatoon Morning 94.1 FM at 7:50 a.m. CST to hear the students discuss the letters in their own words.