Proponents of video review in hockey argue that they just want to get the call right, no matter how long it takes.
Those folks will be happy to know that the NHL’s longest scoring review has finally reached a conclusion, and it looks like the league got this one right.
It just took 45 years.
The review in question was on the final goal — No. 801 — of Gordie Howe’s legendary career.
Scored on April 9, 1980, for the Hartford Whalers against the Canadiens in the playoffs, Mr. Hockey took a pass from his son, Mark, and beat goaltender Denis Herron to cut Montreal’s lead to 8-4.
The goal would go down as Howe from Howe. How romantic.
Only one problem. The scorer ignored the pass from Whalers goaltender John “Cheech” Garrett to Mark Howe.
Garrett, who would play in 207 NHL games before an illustrious career as a broadcaster for the Canucks, didn’t initially launch an appeal to the league, but he’s been vocal about getting the assist added to his ledger for nearly half a century.
In an interview on Sportsnet’s “After Hours” in 2023, Garrett continued his appeal.
“That’s a hard pass,” Garrett said in the interview. “Mark takes it, Mark gives it to Gordie, Gordie scores this beautiful goal. How can I not get an assist on that? I phoned Benny Ercolani — he’s now retired, but Benny was the statistician for the league.”
Garrett said he didn’t complain immediately after the game because of how it would have looked after he conceded eight goals in a loss.
But as the years went on, the man known as “Cheech” used his platform as a broadcaster to raise awareness for his cause.
He also had plenty of support from Canucks fans, who launched a social media campaign supporting Garrett’s quest back in 2013.
All the lobbying has finally paid off.
During the second intermission of Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcaster Ron MacLean announced the league was finally awarding Garrett with an assist on Mr. Hockey’s final goal.
“Colin Campbell of the NHL has begged all of you former NHLers, please do not be writing the league looking for credit on an assist,” joked MacLean. “They are adding one to the record books, and this is a beauty.”
“John Garrett was denied official status for this assist. He moves the puck. In the record books, it just has Howe from Mark. It did not feature Cheech’s assist. It will, forevermore.”
He concluded: “It’s official, John Garrett, you have an assist on the last goal Mr. Hockey ever scored,” he concluded.