More than 70 NHL players were both hockey veterans and war veterans
By Mark Schadenberg
Famed NHL goalie Johnny Bower told officials he was old enough to
participate and that his birth certificate was destroyed in a house fire.
Bower was not talking about signing a contract to play pro hockey.
The Hockey Hall of Fame netminder, who played up to the 69-70 season
for the Maple Leafs, recently turned 90 and is a Second World War veteran. As
one of three Leafs honoured with a statue outside Air Canada Centre in Legends
Row, Bower was a goalie with the last Stanley Cup champion Leafs in 1967 – a team
which also featured heralded puck stopper Terry Sawchuk, along with Red Kelly,
Bob Pulford, George Armstrong, Dave Keon, Bob Baun, Frank Mahovlich, Ron Ellis,
Allan Stanley, Eddie Shack and Tim Horton.
Red Kelly volunteered in 1954 to join a visit of Canadian troops in the
Korean War.
Kelly and Bower were both in attendance at the Hockey Hall Of Fame in
Toronto earlier this month during the official opening of an exhibit called: ‘Hockey
Marching As To War’.
The new display recognizes hockey’s connection to international
conflicts and the role played by many NHL players – Canadian and American.
The First World War began 100 years ago, so the HHOF commeroration is
timely.
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"It's been 100
years since the start of the Great War. Many Canadians from across this great
land gave the ultimate sacrifice, and hockey players were no different.
Partnering with Library and Archives Canada, the Hockey Hall of Fame pays
tribute to all of those involved in the great game of hockey and who also
served their country with this special exhibit on hockey during wartime." Phil Pritchard - Hockey Hall of Fame Vice President
and Curator, in the HHOF website.
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Hall Of Fame members who also served in the
military in some capacity currently have a red ribbon attached to their plaque.
For junior hockey fans, the Memorial Cup is on
display as well as it was created in 1918 to honour those who died in the First
World War. The OHL’s Red Tilson trophy for most outstanding player is named
after an Oshawa Generals hockey star who died in the Second World War.
Other noteworthy pro hockey players who also
served in the military include Conn Smythe (pictured below), Syl Apps, Punch Imlach, Frank
McGee, Frank Selke, Sid Abel, Bobby Bauer, Max
Bentley, Turk Broda, Roy Conacher, Hap Day, Doug Harvey, Tommy Ivan, Harry
Watson, Kitchener’s Milt Schmidt, plus American
Hobey Baker (Top NCAA player annually receives the Hobey Baker award)
Bower is the first in videos posted online in
links below – to note how many more could have played in the NHL if not dying
overseas serving their country. Even with that in mind, 40 NHL players served
in the First World War and 31 in the Second World War, according to theHHOF.
LINKS:
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