gold star for USAHOF

1979 Hockey Inductees

The Class of 1979 could easily (and maybe should be) called the Bobby Orr show. Orr was inducted immediately without the three wait period, as many believed he should. He was not inducted with lightweight inductees as both Harry Howell and Henri Richard were excellent additions, but you had to feel bad for those two (especially Richard who despite eleven Cups was always in somebody’s shadow), but when you go in with Orr, what else can be expected?
We could write a bible about Bobby Orr, but for the sake of brevity, we will try to highlight this legend’s vast accomplishments.
Gordon Juckes served Hockey very well in his native province of Saskatchewan and beyond. After World War II, Juckes worked for the local Saskatchewan amateur teams and eventually ascended to the Presidency of the Saskatchewan Senior League and then later the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association. He would transfer his skills to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association where he would also have a run as its President.…
A very good Defenceman who knew how to control his end of the ice expertly, Harry Howell won the Norris Trophy in 1967 (the last before Bobby Orr dominated the award) and was named a First Team All Star that year. Although, he was never named to another Post Season team, he was good enough to have played in seven All Star contests. Howell was known…
Dubbed the “Pocket Rocket” due to being the younger (and shorter) brother of Maurice ‘Rocket” Richard, Henri Richard may have been in the shadow of his more famous brother, but he was one gifted hockey player in his own right.