What’s the Definition of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick?

Gordie Howe Hat Trick Definition:

• One Goal.
• One Assist.
• One Fight.
• …in the same game.

History of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick

Long before the era of helmets, mouthguards and health insurance – in the wild, wild west of heralded hockey history – a player named Gordie Howe was busy writing his own tattered and (assumedly) blood-soaked book of rules.

Legend has it, he was such a fierce competitor that he (inadvertently) invented his own version of a hat trick – a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. The “Gordie Howe Hat Trick“, as it came to be known, resonated with the rough and tumble culture of the sport and has survived as a concept for the last 50 years.

In an amusing twist, despite his name being etched in folklore for this unique achievement, Gordie himself only accomplished this feat twice in his illustrious career. While his competitors were busy getting their teeth knocked out trying to emulate his style of play, G-Diddy was probably chuckling to himself on the bench, wondering why everyone was getting so worked up about a feat he rarely even performed.

Fast forward to the present day, and the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” still brings a grin to the faces of hockey fans. Every time a player scores a goal, dishes out an assist, and drops the gloves for a brawl – there’s a ripple of mirth that goes through the crowd, as they remember the man who started this unofficial tradition. Because in a sport riddled with lost teeth and broken noses, who said you can’t have a little fun? And I’m sure he appreciated the reference.

Who Has the Most Gordie Howe Hat Tricks?

For those uninitiated, new to hockey, or fighting, or maybe Planet Earth in general, and one more time for the cheap seats: a Gordie Howe Hat Trick is when a player scores a goal, an assist, and has a fight in the same game.

As mentioned, it’s a bit odd that Gordie Howe himself only had 2 GHHTs in his whole career, but I think the namesake is more of an homage to his overall badassery. I once heard someone say that a more appropriate GHHT would be a goal, an assist, and an elbow. As he was known to throw elbows around to absolutely anyone who wanted one. Or was just in the general vicinity. Or conscious.

GHHT Leaders: Active and All-Time

The all-time leader in Gordie Howe Hat Tricks is current Canucks head coach, Rick Tocchet, with 18. The active leader is none other than Boston Bruin legend Milan Lucic with 3.

I remember his first like it was yesterday. Because it also happened to be his his first career goal, his first career assist, and his first fight (in LA against Raitis Ivanans while still wearing number 62). That’s pretty amazing. Lucic credits the game, and more specifically his actions in the game, as the reason he stuck in Boston and was soon spotted wearing the now familiar 17 we know and love him in.

Why all the talk about Gordie Howe Hat Tricks? Well, last night in Arizona, two players on the same team recorded the feat. In the same game. Whaaaaaaat?

But that’s just two players out of a long history which has seen many examples of this awesome phenomenon. Let’s go broader.

Top 30 NHL Players With Most Gordie Howe Hat Tricks – List

1. Rick Tocchet – 18 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
2. Brendan Shanahan – 17 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
3. Brian Sutter – 12 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
4. Cam Neely – 10 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
5. Bob Probert – 9 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
6. Gordie Howe – 9 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
7. Kevin Stevens – 8 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
8. Jarome Iginla – 8 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
9. Paul Kariya – 8 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
10. Milan Lucic – 6 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
11. Teemu Selanne – 6 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
12. Brad Marchand – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
13. Pat Verbeek – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
14. Wayne Gretzky – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
15. Eric Lindros – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
16. Joe Sakic – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
17. Ilya Kovalchuk – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
18. Martin St. Louis – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
19. Jaromir Jagr – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
20. Rick Nash – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
21. Mario Lemieux – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
22. Keith Tkachuk – 4 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
23. Ryan Getzlaf – 3 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
24. Pavel Datsyuk – 3 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
25. Bobby Orr – 3 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
26. Scott Stevens – 3 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
27. Chris Pronger – 3 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
28. Zdeno Chara – 2 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
29. Rob Blake – 2 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
30. Drew Doughty – 2 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks

Liam O’Brien vs. Uncle Nick Foligno

The first was Liam O’Brien. He mixed it up with former Bruin favorite, Uncle Nick, Nick Foligno Foligno – acquired by Chicago so the Blackhawks would have someone to protect Connor Bedard. It also looked like the Bruins were all-in on Tyler Bertuzzi during the offseason as Foligno and Taylor Hall were shipped to Chicago. Well, that didn’t happen.

After the Blackhawks went down 3-1 with 4 minutes left in the first, Nick Foligno and Liam O’Brien mixed it up on the ensuing faceoff. I’m not sure why Foligno seems caught off guard by O’Brien, but he clearly was asleep at the switch when this bout began. Nick looks like he wants his dental plan activated as O’Brien lands two hard ones before Foligno seemingly is even aware a fight is happening.

This scrap then turns into one of the the more typical examples we see today, with O’Brien trying to put the arm bar to Foligno. Uncle Nick tries to break said bar while delivering several punches to O’Brien’s already bruised face. Despite his slow stat, I have to score this as a solid win for Nick.

Jarred Tinordi vs. Jack McBain

The hits keep coming with one minute left in the second period. The Blackhawks, trailing 7-1, are feeling the frustration and another former Bruin, Jarred Tinordi, has had enough. Arizona’s Jack McBain is jamming away at the Blackhawks goaltender before a whistle and the two wind up behind the net.

Tinordi asks McBain to go, and McBain obliges. Again, we see a classic fight of today’s style with both guys trying to tie each other up whilst throwing some bombs that mostly miss. Each guy does manage to score a couple of points by landing a shot – with Tinordi landing a big bomb at the end of the fight to earn a win.

“Utah, Get Me Two. Gordie Howe Hat Tricks”

Arizona went on to win the game 8-1. McBain finished the night as the second star with 2 goals, 2 assists and a fight. Liam O’Brien had the more traditional 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 fight line to go with his already bruised face. Two GHHTs in the same game. I was more excited than Detective Angelo Pappas getting his hands around two meatball sandwiches.

Great to see this kind of action, this early in the season. There’s nothing more pathetic than a team getting smoked 8-1 and there’s no emotion (or fights) at all. It’s just boring to me.

I always wondered how Mr. Hockey felt about having a feat such as the Gordie Howe Hat Trick named after him. I hazard to guess that – if it made for good hockey – he’d be all for it.