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Garry Howatt

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Garry Howatt
Born (1952-09-26) 26 September 1952 (age 72)
Grand Centre, AB, CAN
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Hartford Whalers
NHL draft 144th overall, 1972
New York Islanders
Playing career 1972–1984

Garry Robert Charles Howatt (born September 26, 1952 in Grand Centre, Alberta) is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. Howatt was known for his toughness and, due to his small size, had the nickname "Toy Tiger."[1]

Career

Junior and AHL

Howatt played one year in the WCHL with the Flin Flon Bombers in 1971-72. He amassed 79 points in 60 games. That year he was drafted into the NHL by the New York Islanders at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. The year after he played with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL, getting 49 points in 65 games. [citation needed]

NHL

Howatt started his National Hockey League career with the New York Islanders in 1972. He also played for the New Jersey Devils and Hartford Whalers. He retired after the 1984 season.

Howatt enjoyed his greatest popularity with the Islanders, remaining on the team from their first season, through their formative years of steady improvement, right through to their first two Stanley Cups, in 1980 and 1981. Howatt, known along with teammate Bobby Nystrom as a member of the "Dynamic Duo", was a fan favourite admired for his scrappy, energetic style of play. For this reason, Islander fans established a Howatt-Nystrom booster club, called the "Dynamic Duo Fan Club", which was active throughout the 1970s.[2]

When he left the Islanders in 1981, Howatt held the Islanders' career penalty-minutes record (1,466) and career playoffs penalty-minutes record (279).[2] In Hartford, Howatt scored a career-high 50 points and was offered a long-term contract and the team's captaincy. However, in his words, "bad advice from some former teammates" led him to request a trade to New Jersey. Howatt was traded with Rick Meagher for Merlin Malinowski and the rights to Scott Fusco.[3] After squabbling with Devils' management, he played only sporadically before ending his career with the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he helped them win a Calder Cup as their captain.[4][5]

On January 15, 1983 Howatt (as a member of the New Jersey Devils) and Mickey Volcan (as a member of the Hartford Whalers) became the only active players to officiate an NHL game, when a snowstorm prevented a referee and a linesman from reaching the Hartford Civic Center for a game between the Whalers and Devils.[6][7]

Personal life

Howatt suffers from epilepsy and was recognized by the epilepsy community for his grittyness by being awarded the National Epileptic Foundation Man of the Year for 1974. He later resided in New Jersey, where he owned and operated his own business, Mt. Freedom Golf, which he sold in 2010. Howatt now lives in Arizona with his wife and is still active playing hockey with NHL alumni. He is also active in rodeos throughout Arizona, participating in team roping competitions.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Leonard, Pat (2010-09-25). "Brawler Howatt takes his fight to the rodeo". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  2. ^ a b "NYI TOP 10: ENFORCERS 1-5". New York Islanders. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (16 October 1982). "DEVILS GET HOWATT FROM THE WHALERS". New York Times. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Jeff. "Coach John Paddock's Long, Strange Trip To Become The Leader Of The Pack". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Mariners Are Honored". The Lewiston Journal. 19 May 1984. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Whalers Top Devils, 2-1". New York Times. 16 January 1983. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  7. ^ Pinchevsky, Tal. "Volcan, Howatt made NHL history 30 years ago". NHL.com. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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