HOCKEY HISTORY: Gordie Howe’s historic 1000th goal against the Birmingham Bulls

Hockey’s equivalent of Hank Aaron passing Babe Ruth’s home run record happened on Sunday, April 6th when Alex Oveckin overtook Wayne Gretzky for most career goals in the NHL at 895.

But did you know our Birmingham Bulls and today’s Legacy Arena are a part of hockey goal-scoring lore?

Gordie Howe’s 1000th goal in Birmingham

On December 7, 1977, the 49-year-old Gordie Howe—the all-time NHL goal scorer at 801—was seeking his 1000th goal in his legendary career. While playing for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey League, Howe found the net in front of 10,211 fans at the BJCC Coliseum.

Here is how Birmingham Post-Herald Staff Writer John Cargile described the moment:

“Thirty years ago, if Gordie Howe had been told he would score 1,000 goals, he might have said, ‘You’re crazy.’

And, if he had been told he would score his 1000th in Birmingham, Alabama, he might have had a cardiac arrest at the tender age of 18.

‘Thank God it’s over,’ Howe said in a room full of news media, bright lights and microphones.”

Howe slipped the puck past John Garrett, an all-star goalie on the opposing team: the Birmingham Bulls. He would go on to play almost another decade of professional hockey, but made more of a name for himself as the color commentator for CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada.”

Another fun fact: Two years later after Howe notched his historic goal, Wayne Gretzky played against the Bulls at the age of 17.

Reflecting on Howe’s goal and Bulls history, David Koonce—the team’s Executive Vice President—summed up why it is important to remember the team’s past.

“There is a rich history of hockey in Birmingham that most people just aren’t aware of. Gordie Howe scoring his 1000th goal against John Garrett and the Bulls is a great example of that. 

However, there is good news. We now live in a world where technology can not only preserve our history in high definition, it opens up vaults that have been long forgotten. 

This teaches the new generations of Bulls fans about the team’s long history beyond the ‘Old-timers telling stories’.”

Bulls play for President’s Cup on Saturday

Interested in rooting for the Birmingham Bulls? On Saturday evening, the Birmingham Bulls are scheduled to take on the Fayetteville Marksmen in an SPHL President’s Cup playoff match at the Pelham Civic Complex. If there needs to be a game three, they will play Sunday afternoon in Pelham.