Johnny Bower – Athlete

Born in November 1924 in Prince Albert, Johnny Bower played on frozen ponds with catalogues and mattresses for body protection. He started in the nets at the age of 8.

Bower’s junior hockey years were spent with the Prince Albert Black Hawks, interrupted only for war service. He moved directly to the American Hockey League Cleveland Barons in 1945.

Thirteen seasons in the AHL and the Western Hockey League brought many awards: three Calder Cups; the Hap Holmes Memorial Trophy three times; WHL Leading Goaltender Award; selection to the AHL All‑Star Team; and the first goalie to receive the Most Valuable Player Award in 1956 ‑ an award he received twice more.

Then, Bower began his second career at the age of 33. Thirteen years in the National Hockey League, two with the New York Rangers and 11 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bower starred in four Stanley Cups for Toronto, 1962, ’63, ’64 and ’67. He accumulated notable awards and achievements, the Frank Boucher Trophy in 1953 and the Vezina Trophy in 1960 and 1964.  Bower is a member of the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame, the Cleveland and Rhode Island Halls of Fame and was installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on June 18, 1988.

Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.