Johnny Mowers
Encyclopedia
John Thomas "Mum" Mowers (October 29, 1916 - December 7, 1995) was a Canadian
ice hockey goaltender who played for the Detroit Red Wings
.
of the AHA.
His 1.93 GAA
with the Omaha Knights inspired Jack Adams to sign Mowers for the 1941
season with the Detroit Red Wings
. Veteran Tiny Thompson
was not playing up to expectations so Mowers was put in net instead. He was so impressive in his first season, that he almost won both the Vezina Trophy
and the Calder Memorial Trophy
, a feat that has only been accomplished by Frank Brimsek
. He lost the Calder to Johnny Quilty
and the Vezina to Turk Broda
that season.
Next season
, Mowers GAA increased as the Detroit Red Wings plummeted to 5th place. He regained his skills in the playoffs leading the Red Wings all the way to the Stanley Cup finals
against the Toronto Maple Leafs
. The Red Wings won the first 3 games but the Leafs made a remarkable comeback winning the next 4 games. Mowers let in 19 goals in the 4 losses.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Mowers and the Red Wings would win the Stanley Cup
next season. Mowers was also awarded the Vezina Trophy for his efforts.
In 1943, he enlisted in the army and would not play again until 1947
. When he came back he found his job lost to Harry Lumley. He would go on to play 2 games In 1948 with the Indianapolis Capitals
before retiring.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey goaltender who played for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Playing career
Mowers started his hockey career with the Niagara Falls of the OHA Senior A League. He had an excellent amateur career before playing with the Detroit Pontiacs of the MOHL and the Omaha KnightsOmaha Knights
The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League...
of the AHA.
His 1.93 GAA
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
with the Omaha Knights inspired Jack Adams to sign Mowers for the 1941
1940-41 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
season with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Veteran Tiny Thompson
Tiny Thompson
Cecil Ralph "Tiny" Thompson was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League , first for the Boston Bruins, and later for the Detroit Red Wings. A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Thompson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959...
was not playing up to expectations so Mowers was put in net instead. He was so impressive in his first season, that he almost won both the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
and the Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
, a feat that has only been accomplished by Frank Brimsek
Frank Brimsek
Francis Charles "Mister Zero" Brimsek was an American professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
. He lost the Calder to Johnny Quilty
Johnny Quilty
John Francis Quilty was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played 125 games in the National Hockey League playing for the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
and the Vezina to Turk Broda
Turk Broda
Walter "Turk" Broda was an ice hockey goaltender, playing his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Broda was born in Brandon, Manitoba to a Ukrainian family; joining the Maple Leafs in 1936.-Personal:...
that season.
Next season
1941-42 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
, Mowers GAA increased as the Detroit Red Wings plummeted to 5th place. He regained his skills in the playoffs leading the Red Wings all the way to the Stanley Cup finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Red Wings won the first 3 games but the Leafs made a remarkable comeback winning the next 4 games. Mowers let in 19 goals in the 4 losses.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Mowers and the Red Wings would win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
next season. Mowers was also awarded the Vezina Trophy for his efforts.
In 1943, he enlisted in the army and would not play again until 1947
1946-47 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
. When he came back he found his job lost to Harry Lumley. He would go on to play 2 games In 1948 with the Indianapolis Capitals
Indianapolis Capitals
The Indianapolis Capitals was an American Hockey League professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1939–1952. The Capitals were a farm team for the Detroit Red Wings. Indianapolis won the Calder Cup in 1942 and 1950...
before retiring.
Awards and achievements
- Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
Winner in 1943. - Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1943.
- Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Championship in 19431943 Stanley Cup Finals-Detroit Red Wings 1943 Stanley Cup Champions:-References and notes:* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame . Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7...
.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935-36 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1936-37 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | 18 | — | — | — | 1080 | 54 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1937-38 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | 16 | — | — | — | 960 | 50 | 0 | 3.12 |
| 1938-39 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | 20 | — | — | — | 1200 | 63 | 4 | 3.15 |
| 1939-40 | Detroit Pontiacs | MOHL | 20 | — | — | — | 1200 | 84 | 0 | 4.20 |
| 1939-40 | Omaha Knights Omaha Knights The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League... |
AHA | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 1272 | 41 | 3 | 1.93 |
| 1940-41 1940-41 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
48 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 3040 | 102 | 4 | 2.01 |
| 1941-42 1941-42 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 47 | 19 | 25 | 3 | 2880 | 144 | 5 | 3.00 |
| 1942-43 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 50 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 3010 | 124 | 6 | 2.47 |
| 1943-44 | Toronto RCAF | TNDHL | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 540 | 53 | 0 | 5.89 |
| 1946-47 1946-47 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 420 | 29 | 0 | 4.14 |
| 1947-48 | Indianapolis Capitals Indianapolis Capitals The Indianapolis Capitals was an American Hockey League professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1939–1952. The Capitals were a farm team for the Detroit Red Wings. Indianapolis won the Calder Cup in 1942 and 1950... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 |
| NHL totals | 152 | 65 | 61 | 26 | 9350 | 399 | 15 | 2.56 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935-36 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | A-Cup Allan Cup The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| 1936-37 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | 9 | — | — | — | 540 | 30 | 0 | 3.33 |
| 1937-38 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | OHA-Sr. | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 420 | 16 | 0 | 2.29 |
| 1939-40 | Omaha Knights | AHA | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 610 | 21 | 1 | 2.07 |
| 1940-41 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 561 | 20 | 0 | 2.14 |
| 1941-42 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 720 | 38 | 0 | 3.17 |
| 1942-43 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 679 | 22 | 2 | 1.94 |
| 1946-47 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 7.50 |
| NHL totals | 32 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 2000 | 85 | 2 | 2.55 | ||