Maple Leafs Honour Johnny Bower With Memorial Patch

The Toronto Maple Leafs are honouring the memory of Hall of Fame goaltender Johnny Bower tonight by wearing a special memorial patch both on their jersey and helmet during their game in Glendale, Arizona against the Coyotes.

The logo features Bower’s initials “JB” with his retired number 1 formed inside the “B”.

As the patch was created over the holiday break and while the team was on a road trip it appears it may have had to be manufactured for use quite quickly, the logo has simply been printed onto a square patch rather than embroidered as an on-ice patch in the NHL typically would be.

It is not known at this time if the Leafs plan on wearing this patch on their jersey the remainder of the season or for just a handful of games; the additional helmet decal suggests that they may just wear the jersey patch for a few and keep the helmet logo.

UPDATE: According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the patch and decal will be kept for the remainder of the 2017-18 season

The #leafs will wear the “JB” patches and stickers for the remainder of the season.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 29, 2017

Bower spent fifteen seasons in the NHL, twelve with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1958 through 1970. During his time with the Leafs the team won four Stanley Cups and Bower won two Vezina Trophies as goaltender of the year. Bower was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 and had his number officially retired by the Leafs at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. Bower died this past Tuesday on Boxing Day in the Toronto area at the age of 93.