Harry Howell arena

On Saturday the man recognized as one of the greatest defencemen ever to play in the NHL finally got his due.

Harry Howell played in an era when only 120 men were good enough to set foot on the ice in the NHL.

Howell played 1,160 games for the New York Rangers. That’s more games than any other player before, or since.

Howell gave plenty of trouble to opposing forwards. He was a league all-star seven times.

He also won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman in 1967.

Howell’s number was retired by the New York Rangers, and he went on to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

But in his hometown of Hamilton public recognition for Howell has been somewhat muted.

His induction into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame was pretty much the only recognition of his stand-out career, until now.

Nearing his 82nd birthday and suffering from Alzheimers some believe this honour is long over-due.

In the arena that will bear his name Howell’s number is permanently embedded in the ice, both a reminder and an inspiration for generations yet to come.