Tom Fitzgerald of the Boston Globe,

(This story first appeared in the Globe on Oct. 20, 1966)

The National Hockey League’s oldest star paid tribute to the game’s newest star Wednesday evening after the Bruins’ 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

“He’ll do, for sure,” was the at first reluctant appraisal Detroit’s 38-year-old Gordie Howe made of Boston’s rookie defenseman Bobby Orr.

Starting a record 21st campaign in the league, Howe is hampered by an injured knee which was in a cast during the training season.

Gordie stripped the remains of adhesive from the knee area as he contemplated the Orr performance, and what was more important to him, his own team’s loss.

“The kid’s all right,” the old boy said. “He anticipates well, he makes good passes, and I guess he does just about what you’d expect of a good defenseman.”

continued with Sid Abel too...