Bower was one of a kind
Re Fans say farewell to Maple Leafs’ mighty No. 1, Dec. 27 When I was a young teenager, I collected hockey cards. Being from Toronto, the Maple Leafs were my favourite and I collected the whole team, taping them into a small notebook.
I discovered that Johnny Bower was a neighbour and lived in a small post-war bungalow on Patika Ave. in Weston.
Mustering up all the courage I could, I knocked on Mr. Bower’s door. I asked him if he would take my notebook to the Maple Leaf’s dressing room and ask the players to sign their autographs on their hockey card picture. He said he would.
Two weeks later, I knocked on his door again. His wife answered and told me that, yes, the book was back with all the signatures.
But there was one problem. Their very young son had seen the book and, while looking at the pictures, had accidentally ripped some of the pages.
But I was not to worry, Mrs. Bower had taped the rips and my book was intact.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I thumbed through the pages to see all my favourite hockey players’ signatures.
Johnny Bower was not only one of the greatest goalies of all time, but also a kind and generous human being who will be sadly missed. Mike Hyland, Whitby
“Johnny Bower joined other great UkrainianCanadian athletes such as Turk Broda and Terry Sawchuk in leading the Maple Leafs to greatness.” BRUCE COUCHMAN OTTAWA
Johnny Bower was a sportsman and a gentleman.
I remember one game when an opposing player was falling head first towards his goal post. This was before helmets and the goal was anchored to the ice with long metal pipes. Johnny saved him from serious injury by putting his leg pad in front of the goal post to soften the impact.
Punch Imlach tore a strip off Johnny for helping the visiting team, but I’m sure he would have done it again if the need arose.
Johnny Bower was a class act and a great goalie. He will be sorely missed. Steen Petersen, Nanaimo, B.C. I was 10 on a winter’s Saturday morning in 1960 when I visited the Gardens on Carlton St.
Wires from the Hockey Night in Canada trailer, parked on Wood St., kept the doors to the Gardens ajar, which gave me a way in.
Johnny Bower came out of the Leaf dressing room and handed me his goalie stick. A cherished kindness that, 57 years later, I remember as if it was yesterday. Ken Hundert, Toronto You forgot to mention that Johnny Bower was a Ukrainian-Canadian whose surname at birth was Kiszkan. He changed his surname to Bower partly as a favour to sportswriters who often misspelled his name. Peter Rozanec, Toronto Aside from his outstanding hockey career, I always thought of one thing whenever I heard the name Johnny Bower: “Honky The Christmas Goose.”
Bower made a 45-rpm record about the goose that “got so fat that he was no use.” It grabbed listeners’ attention amid the hits of the day on 1050 CHUM.
If radio stations can play the likes of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” they should make room for Honky. Joanne Brigden, Toronto Johnny Bower came to us late but was worth the wait. His class was boundless and his love of both fans and the game were limitless. Daniel Kowbell, Mississauga Johnny Bower was a great UkrainianCanadian athlete. He joined other great Ukrainian-Canadian athletes such as Turk Broda and Terry Sawchuk in leading the Maple Leafs to greatness. Bruce Couchman, Ottawa