Former Flyer Howe elected to Hall of Fame

During his steady and superb career, Mark Howe's accomplishments were overshadowed by those of his iconic father, Gordie, who was sometimes called "the Babe Ruth of hockey."

On Tuesday, the former Flyers defenseman finally found himself at center stage as he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"I'm Gordie Howe's son and I'm proud of it," Howe said in a conference call with reporters. "They could put me in as Gordie Howe's son and I'd be happy."

Howe, the first Flyers defenseman ever named to the Hall, will be inducted on his own merits.

In 10 seasons with the Flyers, Howe was the most prolific scorer among blueliners in franchise history, holding the records for career goals (138), assists (342), and points (480) by a defenseman. He ranks 14th on the Flyers all-time list in scoring, eighth in assists, and fourth in shorthanded goals (24).

Howe, 56, said he was "awestruck" and "speechless" when he learned he was going into the Hall.

"I knew I was close," he said, "but I didn't think I'd ever be in. It's an honor just to be considered."

Howe played 594 games with the Flyers from 1982 to 1992. Now he is the Detroit Red Wings' director of scouting.

"When he played for the Flyers, he was the ultimate leader, on and off the ice," said Ed Snider, the Flyers' founder and chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, the hockey franchise's parent company. "He is one of the classiest men I have ever been around."

Howe will be inducted along with Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, and Joe Nieuwendyk during ceremonies in Toronto on Nov. 14.

"He was one of the greatest defensemen of his era," said Peter Luukko, the Comcast-Spectacor president. "His skill and grace, as well as his leadership ability . . . put him in a class by himself."

During the 1985-86 season, Howe scored 24 goals and totaled 82 points, establishing still-standing franchise records for goals and points by a defenseman in a season. He also posted a plus-85 rating that season, which was the best in the NHL that year and is a Flyers franchise record - and the eighth-best single-season performance in NHL history.

Howe was a four-time NHL all-star, appearing in three of those games as a Flyer (1983, 1986, and 1988). He was a three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman.

Howe, who lives in Jackson, N.J., played with his father and his brother, Marty, in the WHA and with the NHL's Hartford Whalers.

With the Flyers, Howe's accomplishments include helping lead the team to two appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals (1985 and 1987).  He won four Barry Ashbee trophies as the team's best defenseman and the Bobby Clarke Trophy as team MVP in 1983. He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 2001, and said he was thankful his mother, Colleen, who passed away in 2009, was alive for that honor.

Early in his career, he said, his mother told him "to set your own expectations. . . . I never could live up to Dad" and what he accomplished, he said.

He said Tuesday's announcement "means so much more because my dad is still around" to enjoy it.