The tragic passing of NHL legend Gordie Howe has been met with roars of support from a vast number of sports communities, including the NHL gaming community.
A petition started by Brandon Dalton on change.org has started to gain a lot of warranted attention. The petition calls for EA Sports to put Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, on the cover of NHL 17.
The description of the petition reads:
“We want to get as many people as we can to make Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe) the NHL 17 Cover. Gordie Howe was one of the best players to step his skates on the ice. One of the best Red Wings in History. Mr. Howe passed away not to long ago and we would like to get as many people as we can to get Gordie Howe on the Cover of NHL 17. Let’s make it happen. This one is for Gordie. #MrHockeyforNHL17”
EA Sports’ annual hockey installments have routinely featured current NHL players on the cover. Most recently, Chicago’s Jonathan Toews received the honor for NHL 16.
It’s hard to find a reason why this is a bad idea. Howe impacted the game in a way that only few ever could. He was a pioneer with his relentless personality and legendary skill set.
Both on and off the ice, Howe was a man who was looked up to. He logged 1,850 points in 1,767 NHL games, and he still sits second on the league’s all-time goal list, behind just Wayne Gretzky. He netted 801 goals in his 26-season NHL career, spanning from 1946 to 1980. He played six seasons split with the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the WHA from 1973 to 1979.
As the summer continues, more and more tributes will be made in his honor. He dons the nickname “Mr. Hockey” for a reason. He embodied everything that makes hockey the amazing sport it is. His character, skill and tenacity are character traits that every NHL player should look to strive for.
Ultimately, the petition is only for the cover of a video game, but the act of giving him the cover on NHL 17 would be an incredibly classy move by EA and the fans that made this petition so popular.
Put Gordie Howe on NHL 17
NHL 17 is slated to release in September. You can sign the petition on change.org. It is encouraging to see the amount of support it’s already gotten and will continue to get in the coming weeks. It’s a worthy cause in honor of a true legend.