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Providence, RI (June 18, 2006): Johnny Bower, considered one of the greatest goaltenders in hockey history, has confirmed he will attend the R. I. Reds Heritage Society’s 6th annual reunion at Goddard State Park in Warwick on Sunday, August 6. The legendary Bower, an honored member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, will be in town to help celebrate the 50thanniversary of the last R. I. Reds Calder Cup championship of 1955-56. That season he not only led the team to a regular season first place finish and the eventual playoff cup, but was also chosen the American Hockey League’s most valuable player. Bower hopes to be joined for the anniversary event by some of his former Calder Cup teammates. The R. I. Reds Heritage Society is waiting for responses from invitees that include Jimmy Bartlett, Camille Bedard, Dusty Blair, Bruce Cline, Aldo Guidolin, Ivan Irwin, Don Raleigh, Bob Robertson and Ray Ross. Further information on the society’s reunion may be had by calling In an era when the National Hockey League consisted of only six teams and 12 goaltending openings, Bower had to bide his time in the minor leagues for most of his first 14 seasons as a pro goaltender. Then in 1958-59, at age 34, he got his first big break with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His long minor league wait turned out to be worth it, both for Bower and the Leafs. Over the next 12 seasons he led Toronto to four NHL Stanley Cup titles, three consecutively 1962 through 1964. Like many of his other five “Original Six” brethren goalies, Bower never wore a face mask became famous for his fearless play. In fact, he is credited with patenting for goaltenders the most dangerous move a goalie can make - the poke-check. Diving head-first into the skates of an attacking player at full speed, Bower would routinely flick the puck off that player's stick and out of harm's way. At age 46, Bower retired from hockey in 1970 as the oldest goalie ever to play in the NHL. During his 26 pro season seasons “The China Wall,” as he became known, received numerous awards. In the NHL he won the Vezina Trophy as best goalkeeper twice and was selected to the league’s first all-star team once. In the AHL he was chosen best goaltender three times and won the league’s MVP another three times. Bower also earned first all-star team recognition 5 times and second-team once. He played on four Calder Cup championship teams, three with Cleveland and one with the Reds (1955-56). Bower was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 and in 2006 was inducted into the newly-formed AHL Hall of Fame. |
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