‘Congrats, Patty!’: What NHL said as Sharks’ Patrick Marleau broke Gordie Howe’s record

by 24USATVApril 20, 2021, 5 a.m. 45
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Hockey history called for a handshake line, of sorts, for Patrick Marleau on social media Monday night. The congratulatory salutes flooded the zone as Marleau played his record-breaking 1,768th game.

Marleau, in passing “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe, drew praise from both near and far, including a nod from one of the Sharks’ fellow all-time greats, Owen Nolan.

“I was there for Patty’s first game & now I’m witnessing history,” Nolan tweeted. “An amazing accomplishment. Congratulations bud.”

Another Sharks’ legend and ex-teammate gave more subtle applause, sans clothes.

As Toronto’s Auston Matthews (a San Ramon native) and Mitch Marner chimed in with congratulations on an “amazing milestone,” Joe Thornton made a background cameo in the nude. Thornton did have his privates blurred, while wearing a COVID-19 mask and shower slides as he toggled a hockey stick to capture their locker-room humor.

Nothing hit closer to home than Christina Marleau’s words on her husband’s feat, as she relayed via Twitter in part: “Your dedication to the things you love go beyond hockey. The countless road trips where you’ve come home at 3 a.m., only to get up and drive the boys to school. Because you are always giving everyone and everything you love your all. Your decades of devotion at the rink are now truly unmatched. You don’t take time off when a season ends. You take that heartbreak and put it into the motivation into the next season.”

At 7:10 p.m., it became official: Marleau passed Howe for most games played in NHL history.

A minute later, the Sharks’ game against host Vegas Golden Knights was stopped to pay tribute to Marleau, who came off the bench to acknowledge the fans and watch a video message above center with salutations from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Some 2 1/2 hours later, the Sharks skated off Vegas’ ice with a 3-2 shootout loss, but not before another round of applause for Marleau, who waved to his family in a suite and the 3,500 fans in the stands.

The NHL’s Twitter account posted a 3-minute video of Marleau’s career, as narrated by Metalica’s James Hetfield. Marleau’s reaction to it, which he shared after the game to NBC Sports’ California: “They made it all about me, which is different. It should be all about the game. But super special. The Sharks’ organization went above and beyond. They’ve got patches, you name it, they did it. They brought my family here. For the fans to show their support and gratitude, it’s overwhelming.”

Long-time Sharks analyst Drew Remenda followed with a question that brought Marleau to tears: What brings you coming to the rink?

“I just love it,” Marleau said, then pausing and using a towel to dab tears from his eyes. “There’s nothing else like it.”

Marleau heard pregame from “tons” of teammates via text messages, as well as from the Howe family and hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Fellow NHL competitors chimed in from across North America, including Toronto Maple Leafs captain and former Marleau teammate John Tavares, who tweeted: “Incredible to see you pass Gordie’s record for all-time games played. There is no one more dedicated, humble or deserving. I feel extremely fortunate to have been your teammate. Congrats, Patty!”

Howe’s mark may be gone but it isn’t forgotten, nor is his nickname.

Representatives from the Bay Area’s other pro sports teams recorded a pregame message, those coming from the A’s Mark Canha, the Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski, the 49ers’ Mike McGlinchey and Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr.

“What an incredible accomplishment,” Kerr said. “I think I played in about 900 games in the NBA. I can barely walk now. I don’t know how you’re doing it. But keep up the good work. Amazing stuff. Congratulations.” (Kerr’s team was finishing up a win at Philadelphia behind Steph Curry’s 49 points when Marleau took the ice, in case you Bay Area sports history buffs are putting this moment in a time capsule.)

“As an avid hockey fan my whole life, congratulations again for passing Gordie Howe,” Yastrzemski said. “What an accomplishment. You’ve had a great career. And it’s been fun to watch.”

Fellow Candadian Kevin Bieska, who played for Vancouver and Anaheim, tweeted: “Plenty of battles, more respect for this pro! Miss him pushing the puck between my legs and beating me in a foot race. Sweet thanks #1768 ”

Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk summed up Marleau’s feat by saying: “This is an absolutely insane accomplishment- Congrats Patty!”

Mike McKenna, a Golden Knights television analyst and former NHL goaltender, captured the scene in Vegas as “an amazing tribute … Patrick waving to his family in the building. Where’s the tissues(?)”

Former Sharks teammate Mark Smith got so nostalgic he posted a picture of their 1997 camp, adding: “Congratulations to my friend #patrickmarleau for passing #gordiehowe for most games played in the NHL. I’m guessing this pic was taken in ’97, our first camp in SJ. We’ve changed a bit since then, but the 3 of us still remain great friends. @Hammerhan27.”

Marleau’s historic night already was going viral before the puck dropped. Specifically, Sharks photo manager Brandon Magnus sent out an image of Marleau’s personalized gloves, and grammar police pointed out a flaw (the final “S”) in the stitching for “MOST GAMES PLAYED IN NHL HISTORY 1768TH NHL GAMES.”

Media members, past and present, also gave nods of respect, and vice versa.

Politicians made sure to get into the act, too. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo paid tribute to Marleau as a “class act” who’s brought “cheers and pride to our city for a quarter century!”

In the end, there was and will be: respect.
• Patrick Marleau emotional as he reflects on career, breaking Gordie Howe’s record
• Marleau’s journey to Howe’s NHL record began with some luck — and talent Sharks couldn’t deny

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