Johnny Bower

Johnny Bower was born on November 8th, 1924 in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan was hit hard during the great depression. Saskatchewan faced severe droughts that lead to crop failures year after year. The once fertile soil was dried up and turned to dust. Many families struggled to find food, and many lived on the brink of famine.

Johnny Bower won 4 Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967. Having met Johnny Bower at the Montreal Hockey Show, people don’t realize how much of an innovator he was of goalie equipment. As an older player, he recognized the importance of adapting his gear to help prolong his career and his performance. Johnny Bower prioritized making his gear lighter to maintain agility and reduce fatigue during games. His modifications included adjusting, packing and experimenting with different materials that made his goalie equipment more manageable without sacrificing protection. Despite being undersize for a goaltender and playing well into his 40’s, he understood the toll the game took on his body and remained competitive.

Johnny Bower had a special bond with his mother, who was known for her care and strength. During tough times, she supported Johnny’s early love for hockey even though it meant sacrificing financially. Annie Kiszhan played a crucial role in holding the family together, often facing near impossible challenges but ensuring that they had food on the table and establishing family unity. She found ways to scrape food together and stretch whatever little they had, knowing that her efforts were vital to her family’s survival. His mother’s strength shaped Johnny Bower’s value of humility and even in his retirement years.

When Johnny Bower retired, he knew that his fame and four Stanley Cup Championship with the Toronto Maple Leafs would not guarantee financial security for his family. In his era, NHL players earned very little money. For Bower, providing for his family was always a top priority, even if it meant taking regular jobs. His family always looked up to him. He was a hero on the ice but was also as much of a hero to his family, doing whatever it took to support them off the ice. Johnny Bower’s father passed away when he was 15 years sold. This early hardship played a major role in shaping Bower’s work ethics and sense of duty of supporting his mother and siblings.

While Harold Ballard, the former President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, created instability within the organization, Bower defended his teammates publicly, advocated for their needs and showed loyalty when Ballard did not. Bower supported players who were mistreated and could not support their families. He wasn’t one to blindly endorse Ballard’s decisions. The balance of diplomacy and conviction earned Bower the respect of players in the NHL, even to this day. Johnny Bower’s mother embodies the spirit of the “common man” and represents the best of Canada. Johnny did so with the same quiet dignity and humility that his mother taught him.

Jonny Bower’s parents Annie and Johnny sit alongside him in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Johnny Bower made it known that the Hockey Hall of Fame represents those families and their influence are valued just as much as the athlete individual accomplishments. Johnny Bower’s story is about a remarkable career and also about family recognition and the way he honoured them.

Johnny Bower enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was 15 years old. He lied about his age. His decision to enlist reflected his strong sense of patriotism for family and country. Johnny Bower’s struggles were real. He worked tirelessly to support his family. His role as an aircraft mechanic during World War II made him a true Canadian hero and because of his proficiency, he saved many Canadian lives.

Bower's gritty style of play and willingness to persevere against all odds resonated with the blue-collar ethos of many American cities. His performances in iconic arenas like Madison Square Garden or the Detroit Olympia left lasting impressions on American hockey fans, who admired his never-give-up attitude.