RIP Johnny Bower, the China Wall.

RIP the China Wall, Johnny Bower. A life well lived, 93 years old; he lied about his age pretty much his whole life initially to sign up for the Canadian army in WW2. He was a throw back to a different era. The clips of him playing fearlessly with no mask are legendary enough but he did so as one of the best at his position of all time. You could argue few if any others had his perseverance to stick with it after eight years in the AHL, making the NHL with the Rangers in 1954 then getting beat out the next year by Gump Worsley and going back to the minors for four more years before being acquired by Punch Imlach and the Leafs.

I had the good fortune to work numerous functions with Johnny. He was a tremendous ambassador for the game; so kind, generous with his time, had a real solid memory and was beloved by all including opponents. This picture was taken two years ago at the HHOF in the replica Montreal dressing room. Johnny and I went in there to check the pads in the left of the photo. He was under the impression that the pads under Plante's stall were actually his so we went to look for a tell tale sign that he said he could tell by. Turns out they weren't but we stood there so long talking hockey I said, let's grab a picture. Sure glad we did. May you rest in peace you gallant ice warrior and champion for so many.