Howie Meeker, a household name for decades in this province, died Sunday at the age of 97.

Meeker had four Stanley Cup rings with the Toronto Maple Leafs, was NHL rookie of the year in 1947 — the same year Gordie Howe broke into the league — served a year as coach of the Leafs, and rose to icon status as colour commentator for Hockey Night in Canada.

But it was with the Guards Athletic Association that he became involved in local hockey, quickly producing a large group of young talented players, said SportNL upon his induction into its Hall of Fame as a builder in 2016. In 2000, Meeker was inducted as an honorary member of the Guards Athletic Association.

Between 1957 and 1976, Meeker was a major figure within Newfoundland and Labrador hockey. His coaching contribution included high school, junior and senior in St. John’s and the St. John’s Capitals in provincial senior competition. He coached the Caps to a Herder Memorial Trophy provincial title in 1970 and later led the Feildians to a provincial intermediate crown.

For years, Howie Meeker’s sporting goods store was also a fixture in St. John’s at the corner of Freshwater Road and Harvey Road.

Meeker served as president of St. John’s Minor Hockey Association and founded his well-known Howie Meeker Hockey School that was featured nationally on CBC television.

His TV and radio hockey career began with CJON where he quickly earned a reputation for voicing his opinion. His move to local CBC quickly saw him climb the ladder to commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, coining his signature phrase, “Golly gee willikers!”

Born in Kitchener, Ont., he earned the Order of Canada, election to the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, and prestige as winner of the 1998 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his work on HNIC.