A Little Story About Howe, Shack and Big Lou Fontinato

He is undoubtedly, hockey’s most distinguished ambassador. But don’t be deceived by Mr. Hockey’s folksy smile and firm handshake. He may be considered a saint these days, but during his playing days, Howe was an unholy terror! Back during the heyday, Howe was nothing short of a nightmare on skates. Not only was he mean and dirty, but the big right-winger was also the most feared fighter of his time.

At six-foot and weighing 205 pounds,the massive shouldered, bullish necked Howe, was considered a big player for that era, and he knew how to use every solid inch of it to his advantage. He was also the architect of the elbows as lethal weapons. They were every bit as dangerous and intimidating as his stick and fists. It’s wasn’t that Howe always played it dirty. Trouble was, you never knew when he’d cross the line. As one player stated, "messing with Howe was like having a death wish".

Still, there were a few nonbelievers who felt a compulsion to challenge his credentials. Ranger enforcer Big Lou Fontinato was among those who did. One night during a game between the Wings and Rangers back in 1959, Fontinato, then one of the most feared fighters of that era, rushed to the rescue of teammate Eddie Shack (yes our very own Shack, do you remember it Ed Shack 23?). Shack had mysteriously sustained a bad cut during a mix-up with Mr. Howe. According to witnesses, Howe had laid the stick on Shack. Fontinato who was Shack’s muscle, skated in and warned Howe to cool it or else!. On the next shift, big Lou went looking for Howe and smashed him into the boards. It was in retaliation for the Shack attack, and it was on!

Howe snatched Fontinato’s jersey with his left hand and unloaded a series of haymaker right hands to Lou’s kisser. The big Ranger gamely traded punches, but they were like feather dusters compared to the thunder Howe was tossing. It was one of the ugliest and one-sided beatings I’ve ever seen. It was also the most publicized hockey brawl of that era. Big Lou, battered and beaten, sustained a broken nose and had to be rushed to the hospital for repairs.

Thus began the reputation that followed Howe throughout his career. Don’t mess with Gordie, he’s the baddest of the bad! Howe was as good with his elbows as he was with his dukes, but it didn’t stop there. He could also use his stick with the precision of a surgeon, when provoked. Often this meant simply impeding his progress. He had the opposition so intimidated, that he’d hack, slash and elbow with little fear of retaliation. It was in such subtle and crafty ways that few officials ever caught him in the act. In fairness, Howe seldom went after the little guys...unless they provoked him. It was a treat watching him perform at Detroit’s old Olympia during the late 50’s and early 60’s. I’ve lost count of the guys who went flying into the corners with him and never made it out. The National

Hockey League should have registered his elbows as lethal weapons: they were devastating. Howe was as dirty as he was great.

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