Johnny Mowers
John Thomas " Johnny" Mower ( born October 29, 1916 in Niagara Falls, Ontario; † 7 December 1995) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and coach, who played from 1940 to 1947 for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.
Career
During his junior time Mowers played for the Niagara Falls Cataracts in the OHA. He remained after the climb to the seniors on this team, until he was discovered in 1939 with 22 years of the Scouts of the Detroit Red Wings.
But before moving to the NHL he played only for the Detroit Pontiac in Michigan Ontario Hockey Association and the Omaha Knights in the American Hockey Association. After Tiny Thompson finished his career in goal for the Red Wings, Mower's got his chance and took advantage of this. In the following three years he missed only one game. With the Red Wings, he reached both 1941 and 1942, the final series for the Stanley Cup. In the first year, the Red Wings were subject clear in the second just barely.
During the regular season 1942/43 he played outstanding and was awarded the Vezina Trophy. In the playoffs, the Wings reached the finals again. After two home wins against the Boston Bruins he let in two games for the Bruins to a clean sheet and so secured the Stanley Cup victory for his team.
After this success, he interrupted his career and moved into the Second World War. During this time he collected in England at the Wembley Lions his first experience as a coach.
When he returned for the season 1946/47, to the Red Wings, Harry Lumley had taken the place as a goalkeeper. He came only seven missions in the game time and worked from the following season in the American Hockey League with the Indianapolis Capitals as player-coach. Back problems caused him to end his career.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
- Stanley Cup: 1943
Personal Awards
- NHL First All -Star Team: 1978
- Vezina Trophy: 1943