Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey® is recognized as the greatest all around hockey player in history. His pro career spanned an unbelievable 32 seasons and covered 6 decades. His extraordinary talent, fame and allure helped the NHL to double in size and spawn a whole new league, the World Hockey Association. When he retired from the sport, he held more records than any athlete in history. He established all-time marks for goals, assists, points, games played and game winning goals. He is considered the most durable athlete in history and amazingly he had his best seasons at the ages of 41 and 48. Remarkably, Mr. Hockey® has appeared in 29 All-Star games. He was in the top 5 (NHL) in scoring for an unbelievable 20 consecutive years.
An incredibly humble icon, he has inspired generations of players from the legendary Bobby Orr to the great Wayne Gretzky. Gordie Howe, #9, is the Paul Bunyan and Babe Ruth of his sport. He is considered by many to be the greatest athlete in history, a humanitarian and the greatest all-around hockey player of all-time.
Armand has served his country for many years in major roles as a member of the Canadian National Defence Program. Mr. St-Pierre has been involved in hockey and football all of his life, as a player and coach. He has coached minor elite hockey, as well as college and university. In recent years he served as a governor in the QMJHL at the executive level, and as well he sat on several important administrative hockey committees. For several years he has been scouting young prospects in the Quebec region for Major Junior, Universities, and the National Hockey League.
A semi-retired person, Armand brings to Selects Hockey a vast amount of expertise and knowledge in hockey, while being an interface with French hockey organizations and players. Fluent in both English and French, Armand graduated from McGill University with a MBA and PH. D. in the field of Business and Technology.
Mark is currently the Head Pro Scout for the Detroit Red Wings entering his 15th year in the Front Office.
Mark played 21 years in the NHL and World Hockey Association. His career includes a silver medal (at the age of 16) as a member of the USA Hockey team in 1972, 6-time NHL All-Star, 3-time Norris Trophy Runner-Up (as NHL's Best Defenseman), and Hart Trophy Runner-Up (as NHL's Most Valuable Player). Howe also posted a +85 during the 1985-86 season and finished his career with over a +400 rating.
Teams:
Houston Aeros (1974-1977) (WHA)
New England Whalers (1978-1979) (WHA)
Hartford Whalers (1980-1982) (NHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (1982-1992) (NHL)
Detroit Red Wings (1992-1995) (NHL)
Mark has three children: Travis, Azia, & Nolan. He currently resides in Jackson, NJ.
Marty currently is the Managing Director of Power Play International (his father Gordie Howe's company).
Marty Howe had been an assistant coach for the AHL Chicago Wolves for 5 seasons, following 12 years as a player and four behind the bench as a head coach. A native of Detroit, Marty helped guide the Wolves to two championships and three finals appearances during his five-year tenure.
Marty was the head coach of the Utica Bulldogs of the Colonial Hockey League (now United Hockey League) in 1993-94, before spending one year as the head coach of the Gaylord Grizzlies of the North American Junior Hockey League in 1997-98. The son of hockey legend Gordie Howe, Marty played six seasons in the National Hockey League, split between the Hartford Whalers (1979-1982, 1983-1985) and the Boston Bruins (1982-83). He won the 1974 and 1975 AVCO Cups with his father Gordie and brother Mark, while playing for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. Howe also captured the 1973 Memorial Cup with the Toronto Marlboros.
Marty currently resides in Glastonbury, CT with his wife Mary.
John Stevens is currently the Head Coach of the NHL Philadelphia Flyers. Originally from Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada. Selected by the Flyers in the third round (47th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, John played enjoyed a 15-year professional playing career (1984-99) as a defenseman. He Appeared in 53 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers and Hartford Whalers.
A member of Calder Cup Championship teams in Hershey (1988), Springfield (1991) and Philadelphia (1998) Awarded the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Phantoms' top defenseman for the 1996-97 season. Named the second-ever head coach of the Phantoms in 2000. Most recently, John led Philadelphia to the 2005 Calder Cup title.
Ed Harding was formerly the Head Coach and General Manager of the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the QMJHL in 2007 & 2008. From 2003 to 2006, Ed was the Assistant Coach at Lewiston. Previous to this, Ed was the Head Coach with the Tulsa Crude of the USHL, the Flagstaff Mountaineers of the WSJHL as well as at Greely High School. Ed also has held the Assitant Coach position of the Arkansas Riverblades of the ECHL, Portland Pirates of the AHL as well as at the University of Southern Maine.
Ed's playing experience was with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL and the Maine Mariners of the AHL in 1988-1989. Ed was also a member of the University of Southern Maine team from 1985 to 1987.
Detroit Red Wings goaltending coach Jim Bedard enters his 13th season with the team. In his position, Bedard works with all goaltenders in the Red Wings’ system, splitting time between Detroit and Grand Rapids as well as traveling throughout the minor leagues. He has contributed to three Stanley Cup championships during his time with the Red Wings.
Bedard played his junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1976 Entry Draft with their 6th choice (91st overall). He played for the Capitals’ organization for five years, two of which were spent at the NHL level. His NHL statistics total 73 games played with a 17-40-13 record, one shutout and a 3.94 GAA. While not with the NHL club, Bedard spent the majority of his playing time with the Hershey Bears (AHL), but also played for the Cincinnati Stingers (CHL), Rochester Americans (AHL), Tulsa Oilers (CHL) and Dayton Gems (IHL).
Following his days with the Washington organization, Bedard traveled to Europe to play for TPS in Turku, Finland for 14 seasons.
At the conclusion of his playing days, Bedard began his coaching career working with goalies in the Ontario Hockey League. He got his start with the Niagara Falls Thunder, before moving on as an assistant coach with the Erie Otters. In addition, he served as a goaltending consultant for elite teams in Europe.
Bedard, 52, spends the off-season in his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ontario, with his wife Arja and daughter Seija.
