He was one of the greats... RIP, Gordie.
I was too young to have seen him during his Red Wing days, and the WHA never got any coverage in Pittsburgh. But I knew the legend and was eager to see him in person.
I was surprised by how very chippy his play was. I suppose that’s how you survive as a 52 year old playing on a bad expansion team. (52 seemed REAL OLD to me at the time....not so now that I’ve gotten there!)
But he was a true gentleman and a great ambassador of the game. His wife was from just up the road from where I lived in Michigan.
Hartford, CT will never forget him!