There’s nothing worse than a missed flight, except when you miss that flight with Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe.

Future NHLer Kelly Chase was an 18-year-old with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades when he was invited to NHL camp with the Hartford Whalers as an undrafted free agent.

At Toronto’s Pearson Airport, awaiting to board his flight to Hartford. He took a gander around the waiting area, and who did he see but Mr. Hockey himself.

Kelly Chase told the story how he first met Gordie Howe and it left @BizNasty2point0 saying it was the top story he’s ever heard on the pod. pic.twitter.com/dTkCKX9xuK

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 11, 2026

“I can’t believe I’m looking at Gordie Howe,” Chase explained during a recent appearance on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “Finally, I get enough mustard in me, and I walk over, and I say, ‘Mr. Howe, my name is Kelly Chase, and I just want to thank you.

“I played baseball at Gordie Howe Park (in Saskatoon), I played football in Gordie Howe Bowl, and I played hockey in Gordie Howe Arena. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us kids in Saskatchewan.”

Howe smiled, inviting Chase to sit down and join him. Just then, they got the bad news.

Their flight was canceled.

Red Wings Icon Offers Stellar Advice

“Before they cancel the flight, they tell him first,” Chase said. “They say, ‘We have you set up in the hotel in the Marriott in Toronto Airport.’”

Seeing Chase seated next to Howe, the airline staffer asked if they were together.

Mr. Hockey didn’t hesitate.

“He goes, ‘Yeah, we’re rooming together,’” Chase said.

After checking into their room, the two headed out for a beer. Howe began to ask Chase questions.

“He goes, ‘What round you get drafted?’” Chase recalled. “And I said, I didn’t get drafted. I’m a free agent.”

This is when Howe set out to set Chase straight.

“You got to make sure they know who you are, son,” Howe explained to Chase. “They didn’t draft you, so none of those scouts are going to sit in a meeting and go to bat for this kid.

“You got to make sure they know exactly who you are. If you score, you celebrate like it’s a big goal. If you hit, make it a big hit, and make it matter. Make sure everyone knows you hit him.

“If you fight, you fight so that they know who you are.”

Chase Goes On The Rampage

Over the next couple of days, Chase followed Howe’s advice to the letter. He crushed players with punishing hits, rookies and veterans alike.

Chase quickly became Public Enemy No. 1. Everyone on the other team wanted a piece of him. He dropped the gloves with just about every tough guy in the Hartford organization.

Garth Brooks is in town to celebrate our very own Kelly Chase, who’s being honored with the True Blue award at the Blues Hall of Fame induction pic.twitter.com/FDNNkKxnH3

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 13, 2026

“I fought Shawn Cronin, Paul MacDermid, and this kid Chris Brant,” Chase said. “No one on my own team will talk to me.

“I walk out of the arena to the bus about five minutes before the bus is going to take off, and this big old arm comes around me, and it’s Gordie Howe. And he says, ‘Hey, kid, they know who you are now.’”