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Hamilton Hockey – Howie Menard
Menard helped Hamilton to 1962 Memorial Cup victory
“I never saw the guy, yet, that I was afraid of. And what’s more, I’ve still got all my own teeth.” Those are big words coming from a 150-pound hockey player, but Howie Menard backed up those words with some fine play in the 1960s, graduating from OHA Junior to a career in the AHL and NHL that spanned close to 20 years. Born in Timmins in 1942, Menard started with the Toronto Marlies in 1959, but after two seasons joined up with the Hamilton Red Wings, and was a big part of the team’s Memorial Cup victory in 1962. “The smaller you are, the more you have to look after yourself,” Menard continued in his March 1961 interview. “You have to let them know you’re not a soft touch.” Menard only played 24 games with the Red Wings in 1960-61 season, and scored seven times. The next season he scored 12 goals in 48 games. He was nicknamed “Tiger”, and the married captain of the team was pleased to be playing for Eddie Bush in Hamilton. “I prefer the Hamilton management to my former bosses,” he stated in a November 1961 interview in the Hamilton Spectator. “As a matter of face, I like the whole Hamilton system better than the one in Toronto. “Everybody’s happy on our club,” he continued. “Our spirit is the same as last year and we’re unbeaten in six games because we’re all working together.” After his apprenticeship with Hamilton, Menard was called up to the parent club Detroit Red Wings during the 1963-64 season, and filled in on Detroit’s fourth-place squad for Alex Faulkner, who was on the disabled list. Menard’s tenure was only three games with Motown, and he played with Memphis and Springfield with some time skating for the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL in the late 1960s. He also played with the Chicago Black Hawks and the Oakland Seals during the 1969-70 season. Menard was one of several ex-Hamilton Red Wings playing for Los Angeles at the time. His teammates included former Red Wings Bob Wall, Howie Hughes, and Lowell MacDonald. After his time in the NHL, Menard played on several AHL and WHL clubs, including Providence, Baltimore, and Salt Lake, ending his career in OHA Senior with the Whitby Warriors in 1977. He played in 151 NHL games, scored 23 goals, and had 42 assists. His most productive NHL season was in 1968-69 with 10 goals and 17 assists. |
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