For those of you who don’t know, or maybe just forgot, a Gordie Howe Hat Trick is when a player records a goal, assist, and fight in the same game. For those of you who don’t know, or maybe just forgot, a Gordie Howe Hat Trick is the most badass thing in sports. Alex DeBrincat, if you would be so kind as to present the evidence …
That was The Cat on Wednesday night tallying a goal, a sick tape-to-tape assist, and a victory by unanimous decision in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. As you can see with your own two eyes, it is an epic mix of skill and brutality that can be achieved only by the select few.
One of those select few was obviously Gordie Howe, but contrary to what the name might suggest, he didn’t make a habit of them. In fact, Gordie Howe registered just two Gordie Howe hat tricks across his 26-year NHL career. It was just named the Gordie Howe Hat Trick because, well, Gordie Howe.
“The Gordie Howe hat trick should really be a goal, an assist and a cross-check to the face. That might be more accurate,” Gordie Howe’s son Marty once semi-famously said.
Semantics really. After Wednesday, however, DeBrincat is halfway to Howe’s mark. Can he run it back on Saturday in Edmonton for the rare (if ever seen) Gordie Deuce? We’ll just have to stay up late and find out.
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