Joe Bowen's California Tales: High Sticks, Hollywood, and 44 Seasons with the Maple Leafs
After an illustrious 44-season career calling games for the Toronto Maple Leafs on radio and television, legendary announcer Joe Bowen is retiring this month. As he prepares to hang up his headset, Postmedia is delving into his vast collection of stories, highlighting memorable moments from Leafs' visits to opponents across the league, including the sunny cities of California.
The Infamous High-Stick Incident of 1993
Although Bowen never had the chance to call a Stanley Cup final, he vividly recalls the night the Maple Leafs came agonizingly close to facing the Montreal Canadiens in what would have been a historic matchup. On May 27, 1993, in a pivotal Game 6 against the Los Angeles Kings, referee Kerry Fraser ruled that Wayne Gretzky did not commit a high-stick on Doug Gilmour, despite Gilmour suffering a cut chin. Gretzky remained in the game and scored the overtime winner on the power play, a decision that still haunts Leafs fans today.
Bowen, seated in the lower bowl media area at the Great Western Forum with analyst Gord Stellick, had a clear view of the incident. "I definitely saw the high stick," Bowen said, describing the Leafs' furious arguments with Fraser. "What really pissed me off was we all went out after the game, one of the officials was there and told me 'the puck hit (Gilmour).' I said 'how? What did he do, dive on it?'"
This controversial moment led to a rule change the following season, eliminating automatic ejections for high sticks. Bowen remains convinced that the officials, lacking today's video review technology, were influenced by Gretzky's star power. "I'll go to my grave believing that when the three officials got together, one of them had to have said 'we can't kick Wayne Gretzky out of the game.' No bleepin' way they couldn't have said it because there would've been a bleepin' riot."
Hollywood Encounters and Star-Studded Nights
Over the years, the Maple Leafs' trips to Los Angeles often included brushes with Hollywood celebrities, many of whom were guests of the Kings at games. Bowen's former color commentator, actor Larry Mann, known for roles in The Sting and various TV commercials, added to the glamour. During the 1993 series, the team stayed at the luxurious Loews hotel in Santa Monica, where a pool party featured members of the Beach Boys and actor Bernie Kopell.
One memorable evening, Bowen was persuaded by promoted St. John's Maple Leafs players to visit the beach, where the TV series Baywatch was filming. "I'd never seen Baywatch, but down we all go, everyone taking their tarps off, strutting their stuff. And there she was, Pamela Anderson," Bowen recalled. The British Columbia-born former Playboy Playmate impressed the live audience with a running scene, turning Bowen into an instant fan of the show.
Adventures with the Mighty Ducks and Sharks
The arrival of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 1993-94 season, alongside the San Jose Sharks, made California trips more significant for the Leafs and other NHL teams. Anaheim's 'The Pond' arena, nestled among palm trees, was praised for its beauty despite the team's early struggles. In 2011-12, Bowen and his son Sean faced a travel scare when fog delayed their flight from a Notre Dame football game near San Jose, nearly causing them to miss a Leafs-Ducks matchup. "We just made the game in time," Bowen said, relieved.
San Jose's SAP Center, known as the Shark Tank, left a lasting impression on Bowen for its intense atmosphere. "Maybe that was the loudest building I ever did a playoff game," he said of the 1994 series, noting the flat metal ceiling that amplified noise. He reminisced about Johan Garpenlov hitting the crossbar in overtime of Game 6, a moment that could have ended the Leafs' season, but Mike Gartner's goal forced a Game 7, which Toronto won.
As Joe Bowen steps away from the broadcast booth, his stories from California and beyond serve as a testament to a career filled with passion, controversy, and unforgettable moments in hockey history.
