Howe knocked out Meeker's tooth and kept asking about it
Howie Meeker remembered a 1966 season opener when Gordie Howe caught him with an elbow and knocked out a tooth. Players searched the ice for the missing tooth but could not find it. For years afterward, Howe would ask Meeker how his dental health was doing whenever they met.
Howie Meeker played five seasons for Toronto and collected four Stanley Cups, yet a 1966 opening-night clash with Gordie Howe lingered. In a corner battle, Howe’s elbow struck Meeker’s mouth, drawing blood and removing a tooth. Officials halted play, and players from both sides looked across the ice without recovering it.
Howe’s reputation as “Mr. Elbows” preceded his better-known “Mr. Hockey” label. He admitted grabbing a slasher’s stick, pulling him close, and elbowing his head. A Saskatoon statue outside SaskTel Centre still shows his left elbow lifted, preserving that style.
This story may resonate with hockey fans and former players, highlighting how on-ice injuries can outlast careers and shape memories. It could also reinforce ongoing discussions about player safety, dental protection, and respect in contact sports. For older generations, Howe’s playful follow-ups may humanize a legendary competitor, while younger audiences may see how past norms around injury differ from today’s expectations.