'It's going to leave a big, empty hole': Garry Peters recalls friend Gordie Howe

One of Gordie Howe's on-ice rivals, Garry Peters, is remembering a hockey legend and a friend.

Peters, who was born in Regina, played for Montreal, New York, Philadelphia and Boston. He entered the NHL a few years after Howe, who grew up in Saskatoon, had established himself as a star in Detroit.

His elbows would accidentally hit me in the head all the time.- Garry Peters

Howe died Friday at 88 after several years of declining health.

"Gordie was a really good friend and a great person," Peters, 73, said from his home in Saskatoon Friday. "We can't stay here forever but it's going to leave a big, empty hole."

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Peters remembers his first NHL game with the Canadiens was against Howe's Red Wings.

"I wanted to show Toe Blake that I wasn't scared of anybody," Peters said, recalling how, in 1964, he was keen to impress his new coach and thought delivering a body check to a star of the day — Howe — would do that.

Body check leaves an impression

"Gordie is in the corner in our end and... I hit him really well," Peters said. "He went down on one knee and I could see there was frustration on his face."

But Peters knew, as all players did, that Howe would not let such a move go by without a response.

As play continued, Peters said he remembers keeping an eye out for Howe — nervous about what retribution was in store. Suddenly, Howe was upon him.

"He's staring me straight in the face," Peters said.

He was bracing for the worst when Howe gave him a look and a line that he will always remember: "It's a good thing you're from Saskatchewan, kid."

Elbows up

Peters said Howe was a powerful man on the ice and a tough opponent.

"I played many years against him after that and he got me many times," Peters said adding, with a chuckle, that encounters with Howe's elbows were frequent. "His elbows would accidentally hit me in the head all the time. He had a knack of doing this."

Peters said even though Howe could be fierce on the ice, he was great fun and very personable outside the hockey arena.

"He was probably one of the all-time greatest players," Peters said, admiring all elements of Howe's play, from skating to fighting. "There's not a thing in his game that was wrong."