Billy the Kid turns 50
Spitfires legend Billy Bowler is celebrating his 50th birthday today. Now the general manager of the Spitfires, Bowler went from being a 13th round draft pick to the leading scorer in Windsor’s Ontario Hockey League history.
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 1991 OHL priority selections draft when Spitfires general manager Wayne Maxner took the 5 foot 9, 180 pound centre.
And 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.
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 OHL superstar. He made his line mates better and also played with an edge and had a nasty streak to him.
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 better GMs in the OHL with his beloved Spitfires, Bowler was an accomplished head coach in the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League with both the Chatham Maroons and LaSalle Vipers before taking the Windsor job in 2019.