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March 17, 2008

Gretzky Talks About Howe

From the Vancouver Province newspaper

"Wayne Gretzky was the planned surprise guest at the party the Vancouver Giants are having for Gordie Howe to celebrate his 80th birthday today, but while he said he wouldn’t be able to come, he’ll surely find a way to send along his regards.

The Great One took some time here to tell a few of the tales of his interaction with the man Reggie Fleming used to call “Blinkey” as a way to try to get under his skin, always a dangerous proposition. And it all started with that famous picture of the two taken when he was just 10 years old; Wayne remembers it like it was yesterday.

“I remember I was getting out of school that day because I was meeting Gordie at the Holiday Inn at 2’ o’clock,” said Gretzky.

"When I found out I had to talk, Gordie leaned over to me when he saw my distress and said 'kid, just tell them that you feel lost without your stick and skates.' So that's what I said, and after that I remember I started crying because I didn't know what else to say."

Continued...including Gretzky's opinion of the player who best emulated Howe's style.

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