This post covers the definition, history, and all-time leaders of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick in the National Hockey League. For fans of hockey fights, enforcers, and old-time hockey, understanding this unique statistical achievement is a rite of passage. We track the legendary players who popularized the feat, the modern brawlers keeping it alive, and the rare “Double Gordie” occurrences that still pop up in today’s game – including a couple from the 2024 and 2026 seasons.
Updated on 5/17/26
Every once in a blue moon, the stars align. A player decides to put the whole team on his back. He scores a goal. He sets up a buddy. And then he punches someone in the yapper.
It’s the holy trinity of hockey stats.
Table of contents
- Gordie Howe hat trick definition
- History of the Gordie Howe hat trick
- Who has the most Gordie Howe hat tricks?
- The double Gordie phenomenon
- Frequently asked questions
Gordie Howe Hat Trick Definition
For those uninitiated, new to hockey, or maybe Planet Earth in general – one more time for the cheap seats.
A Gordie Howe Hat Trick is when a player records all three of the following in a single game:
- One goal.
- One assist.
- One fighting major.
Pretty simple on paper. Incredibly hard to pull off in the modern NHL. You have to possess the skill to find the back of the net and the absolute willingness to eat a chin-biscuit for your teammates in the same sixty minutes. Not a lot of guys can do both.
History of the Gordie Howe hat trick
Long before the era of helmets, mouthguards and health insurance – in the wild west of heralded hockey history – a player named Gordie Howe was busy writing his own tattered and blood-soaked book of rules.
The term itself was coined by a 1950s New York sportswriter. Howe was such a fierce competitor that he inadvertently became the namesake for a feat that combined scoring, playmaking, and fighting in a single game. The concept resonated with the rough and tumble culture of the sport and has survived as a badge of honor ever since.
In an amusing twist, Gordie himself only accomplished this feat twice in his illustrious career.
While his competitors were busy getting their teeth knocked out trying to emulate his style of play, Mr. Hockey was probably chuckling to himself on the bench, wondering why everyone was getting so worked up about a feat he rarely even performed. His first came on October 11, 1953, when he scored a goal, assisted on Red Kelly’s tally, and fought Fernie Flaman of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His second was just a few months later, on March 21, 1954 – again against the Leafs – where he scored the opening goal, set up two Ted Lindsay goals, and fought Ted “Teeder” Kennedy. That’s it. Two times. In 2,421 professional hockey games.
I once heard someone say that a more appropriate GHHT would be a goal, an assist, and an elbow. As he was known to throw elbows around to absolutely anyone who wanted one. Or was just in the general vicinity. Or conscious. His son Marty actually agreed with this assessment, joking that the real definition should be a goal, an assist, and a cross-check to the face. “That might be more accurate,” Marty said.
Fast forward to the present day. The feat still brings a grin to the faces of hockey fans everywhere. Every time a player scores, dishes out an assist, and drops the gloves for a donnybrook, there’s a ripple of mirth that goes through the crowd. Because in a sport riddled with lost teeth and broken noses, who said you can’t have a little fun?
Who has the most Gordie Howe hat tricks?
As mentioned, it’s a bit odd that Gordie Howe himself only had 2 GHHTs in his whole career, but I think the namesake is more of a homage to his overall badassery.
The all-time leader is current Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, with 18. Right behind him is Brendan Shanahan with 17 – which is hilarious considering he later became the NHL’s chief disciplinarian. Brian Sutter sits third with 16. Tiger Williams and Wilf Paiement each have 15.
When it comes to the beloved Boston Bruins, Cam Neely recorded 10 during his legendary career. Bob Probert had 9. And then there’s Milan Lucic.
I remember his first like it was yesterday. Because it also happened to be his first career NHL goal, his first career assist, and his first fight – in LA against Raitis Ivanans while still wearing number 62. That’s pretty amazing. Lucic credits the game, and more specifically his actions in the game, as the reason he stuck in Boston and was soon spotted wearing the now familiar 17 we know and love him in.
Here’s a look at some of the top all-time leaders in Gordie Howe Hat Tricks:
- Rick Tocchet – 18 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Brendan Shanahan – 17 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Brian Sutter – 16 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Tiger Williams – 15 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Wilf Paiement – 15 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Cam Neely – 10 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Bob Probert – 9 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Jarome Iginla – 8 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Kevin Stevens – 8 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Milan Lucic – 6 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Teemu Selanne – 6 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Brad Marchand – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Wayne Gretzky – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Eric Lindros – 5 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
- Gordie Howe – 2 Gordie Howe Hat Tricks
Yes, Gretzky is on that list. And yes, he has more than Gordie. Let that sink in for a second.
The Double-Gordie Phenomenon
Why all the talk about Gordie Howe Hat Tricks? Because the “Double Gordie” is a real thing – and it keeps happening.
The Double Gordie occurs when two players on opposing teams fight each other, and both end up with a goal and an assist in the same game. It’s the rarest of rare birds. But sometimes, two guys on the same team pull it off.
Liam O’Brien vs. Nick Foligno
Back on October 30, 2023, in Arizona, Liam O’Brien and Jack McBain both recorded the feat for the Coyotes in the same game against Chicago. The first time two teammates had done it in 35 years.
O’Brien mixed it up with former Bruin favorite, Uncle Nick Foligno – acquired by Chicago so the Blackhawks would have someone to protect Connor Bedard. After the Blackhawks went down 3-1 with 4 minutes left in the first, Foligno and O’Brien went at it on the ensuing faceoff. I’m not sure why Foligno seemed caught off guard by O’Brien, but he clearly was asleep at the switch when this bout began. Nick looked like he wanted his dental plan activated as O’Brien landed two hard ones before Foligno was even aware a fight was happening.
This scrap then turned into one of the more typical examples we see today, with O’Brien trying to put the arm bar to Foligno. Uncle Nick tried to break said bar while delivering several punches to O’Brien’s already bruised face. I scored it a solid win for Nick.
Jarred Tinordi vs. Jack McBain
The hits kept coming with one minute left in the second period. The Blackhawks, trailing 7-1, were feeling the frustration. Jarred Tinordi had had enough. Arizona’s Jack McBain was jamming away at the Blackhawks goaltender before a whistle and the two wound up behind the net.
Tinordi asked McBain to go, and McBain obliged. Again, we saw a classic fight of today’s style – both guys trying to tie each other up whilst throwing some bombs that mostly missed. Each guy managed to score a couple of points by landing a shot, with Tinordi landing a big bomb at the end to earn the win.
Arizona went on to win the game 8-1. McBain finished the night as the second star with 2 goals, 2 assists and a fight. O’Brien had the more traditional 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 fight line to go with his already bruised face. Two GHHTs in the same game. I was more excited than Detective Angelo Pappas getting his hands around two meatball sandwiches.
The Double-Gordie keeps showing up
It happened again on October 9, 2024. J.T. Miller fought Anthony Mantha, and both guys had a goal and an assist. A clean Double Gordie in the 2024-25 season opener.
And then on March 7, 2026, the Utah Mammoth hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets and things got absolutely nuts. Alexander Kerfoot fought Damon Severson – both recording 1G, 1A, and a fight. In that same game, Mathieu Olivier also pulled off a standard GHHT, recording 1G, 1A, and a fight against Ian Cole. Three GHHTs in one game. Utah won in overtime 5-4.
Great to see this kind of action. There’s nothing more pathetic than a team getting smoked and showing zero emotion. It’s just boring to me. The HockeyFights.com GHHT tracker has logged 112 total occurrences since they started tracking. That number keeps climbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gretzky hat trick?
A Gretzky hat trick is generally considered to be two goals and one assist in a single game. It plays on the fact that Wayne Gretzky was far more likely to set up a play or score than he was to drop the mitts. He did manage 5 GHHTs in his career, which is more than Gordie himself, so take that for what it’s worth.
Did Tom Wilson get a Gordie Howe hat trick?
Yes. Tom Wilson recorded an Olympic Gordie Howe hat trick at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He scored his first Olympic goal, got an assist, and fought against France. The man is nothing if not consistent.
Has a goalie ever got a Gordie Howe hat trick?
No. While goalies have scored goals, recorded assists, and definitely been in fights, no NHL goaltender has ever managed to do all three in the same game. It would be the most chaotic box score in hockey history if it ever happened.
What is a “Double-Gordie”?
A Double Gordie happens when two players fight each other and both end up with a goal and an assist in the same game. It’s happened six times in NHL history, including the wild Utah-Columbus game in March 2026 where three players pulled off a GHHT in a single night.
I always wondered how Mr. Hockey felt about having a feat named after him. I hazard to guess that – if it made for good hockey – he was all for it. And based on the fights we’ve been tracking in 2026, the spirit of the thing is alive and well.