From CBC
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Johnny Bower was tough as nails in front of the net, but kind and gracious off the ice, says former teammate and lifelong friend Dick Duff.Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.4465289/maple-leafs-legend-johnny-bower-remembered-as-fearless-on-the-ice-generous-in-life-1.4465292Bower died Tuesday after a short battle with pneumonia. He was 93.
The Hockey Hall of Famer and two-time Vezina Trophy winner toiled in the American Hockey League for 13 seasons before earning a permanent spot in 1958 as the Leafs' goaltender, where he won four Stanley Cups alongside good friends like Duff.
Duff reminisced with As It Happens guest host Helen Mann about those days in the NHL with Bower. Here is part of that conversation.
What was it like playing hockey with Johnny Bower?
He was a very intense competitor.
In those days, there was only one goalie in each team, and six in the league. There was only 96 players in the NHL in those days. Six-team league, eh? So it was a grind and he stuck it out and then he helped his guys.
He was also well-liked in the room. We had a lot of fun with him because of his age. He was like our father.
RIP Johhny.
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