After dodging bullets on the battlefields of Europe, dodging frozen hockey pucks as a long time goaltender must have been a piece of cake for Johnny Bower.
That being said it was amazing he was ever able to pursue hockey even at a recreational level. Johnny developed an acute form of arthritis in his hands, a condition which led to his discharge from the army.
"I used to think I'd never be able to hold a goal stick again."
Later on he said "When I was with the Leafs, I'd finish a game, and my stick hand would be locked right up like a claw. Some nights, it was so stiff and sore, it'd take me an hour just to get it open and working."
Despite the battles with arthritis, Johnny became one of the swiftest and most graceful goaltenders ever to play the game. Here's the full Johnny Bower biography.
No comments:
Post a Comment