Johnny Bower

Say the name of Johnny Bower and at once you conjure up images of the grand old game. Ageless Johnny Bower slides out to poke-check an opposing forward as a skate blade whistles past his maskless face only millimeters away. Yes that was hockey!

Johnny remains to this day the same humble, unassuming man he was as a player. Johnny is a native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan whose dream was to play in the NHL. Bower debuted briefly with the New York Rangers in the '53-54 season and played a handful of games with them over three seasons. Then he was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the '58 Inter-League Draft. This launched his NHL career at the age of 34, an age at which most players are retiring.

Over his career, John won 2 Vezina Trophies, awarded to the best goaltender in the NHL. More importantly, he backstopped the Leafs to 4 Stanley Cup victories, including the Leafs last Cup in 1967. John finally retired after playing one game in the '69-70 season at the age of 45! After retirement from active duty, Bower spent several years as a scout for the Leafs only retiring for a second time in 1990.

These days, John and Nancy Bower are in retirement although John stays active with the many charity events he participates in. John remains one of those people whom you meet for the first time but walk away two hours later feeling like you've known him all your life.

Johnny Bower was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.