The legend of Billy Bowler
Nowadays, he is employed by the Windsor Spitfires as their widely respected, no nonsense, vice president and general manager. But it was back at the 1991 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft that the legend of Billy (The Kid) Bowler was born en route to the lad becoming the leading scorer in the history of the OHL Spitfires.
Despite scoring 58 goals, 99 assists, 157 points in 69 games for the Toronto Red Wings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League during the 1990-1991 season, Bowler lasted until the 13th round of the ’91 OHL draft when Spitfires general manager Wayne Maxner took the 5 foot 9, 180 pound centre with the 199th overall pick. Bowler was the sixth forward to be drafted by the Spitfires in ’91, following the forgettable likes of Ryan O’Neill (third round), Reuben Castella and Eric Stamp (both in the fourth round), Jason Knobblock (eighth round) and Scott Faulkner (11th round.)
Not only did Bowler immediately earn a spot with the Spitfires and make Maxner look like a genius, the skilled pivot would develop to the extent that he would finish his four year OHL career in Windsor as the franchise’s all time points leader with 467, including 149 goals and 318 assists. He also tacked on 11 goals, 20 assists, 31 points in 21 playoff games.
As a rookie, Bowler finished fourth on the Spitfires scoring chart in ’91-92 with 25 goals, 63 assists, 88 points. He would then lead Windsor in scoring for each of the next three seasons, putting up respective point totals of 44-77-121, 47-76-123 and 33-102-135.
Small in stature and just an average skater, it was Bowler’s skills and high intelligence as a play-making center that helped take him from 13th round draft pick to full fledged OHL superstar. He made his line mates — including the likes of Sault Ste. Marie product Cory Evans, who remains a good friend to this day — better. Bowler could also play with a nasty edge and wasn’t above sticking an opponent in the nuts if he felt it was justified.
Following his OHL career, Bowler played eight seasons in the American Hockey League, averaging about a point per game while just a step below the National Hockey League. Never drafted into the NHL, Bowler did get into nine NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Now one of the top GMs in the OHL with his beloved Spitfires, Bowler was an accomplished and award winning head coach in the Greater Ontario Hockey League with both the Chatham Maroons and LaSalle Vipers before returning to his Windsor hockey roots.
A true blue Spitfire legend, Bowler’s number nine was retired several years. And in the neighbourhood that surrounds the WFCU Center, which is the home of the Spitfires, one of the streets is named Bowler Drive.
But it was in Kitchener, where the OHL draft was held for the first time ever back in 1991, that the Spitfires waited until the 13th round — after 198 players had already been chosen — to select a short stocky kid who would go on to write history in Windsor.
I was at the OHL draft in Kitchener when Bowler was drafted by the Spitfires. And I remember the aforementioned Wayne Maxner telling me at training camp that fall to watch out for the youngster who somehow lasted until the 13th round.
It turned out to be Lucky 13 for the Spitfires when they took a flyer on Billy The Kid back in 1991.
