George Armstrong mourns “a brother,” the Maple Leafs have lost one of their greatest players, while their fans will no longer see their smiling team touchstone on the streets or at the arena.
Goaltender Johnny Bower, a popular Leaf for seven decades, died Tuesday night at a Mississauga hospital at age 93 after a short battle with pneumonia. Thought to be the second-oldest Leaf to 94-year-old Howie Meeker, Bower had tried to maintain his busy appearances at various charity and team-related functions right up until before Christmas.
The four-time Stanley Cup winner, all-star and Hall of Famer was a huge part of the last Toronto dynasty in the 1960s, but his human qualities shone as much as his catching glove and famous poke check. The ‘China Wall’ and team captain Armstrong were inseparable in those years and whenever appearing in public, they kept up witty exchanges about the glory days and playing for hard-line coach Punch Imlach.
The China Wall did much more than just stand in there. Another testimony to his ability to stop a puck came from Dick Duff, a longtime Leaf hero who became a Canadien in the 1964-65 season via the New York Rangers.
He’s like a brother,” a tearful Armstrong said when reached by phone on Tuesday night. “Like any family member, we’d have liked to keep him around forever. But we can’t.
“The one word I’d use to describe him is great. Great goalie, great husband, great father, grandfather, great with the fans. He loved his (celebrity), but he never had a big head about it.”
Indeed, Bower had time for everyone in his retirement years and even in the darkest days of the Leafs, the 51 years since their last championship, he tried to keep spirits up, refusing to bash the people in charge and showing up at the Gardens or ACC many times, always to a warm ovation. A highlight reel of his greatest saves, including pucks and sticks striking his unprotected face, remain a game-night favourite.