Former Red Wings Forward Glover Dead At 86

Howie Glover’s time with the Detroit Red Wings wasn’t long, but he achieved quite a bit nonetheless.

Glover died earlier this month at the age of 86. Detroit made the acquistion of Glover in a June 5, 1960 trade which saw defenseman Jim Morrison going to Chicago.

A right-winger, Glover played two seasons in Detroit. Just by stepping on the ice, he joined a rare group of Red Wings. His bother Fred also played for the Red Wings, winning a Stanley Cup in 1951-52. The Glovers are one of just 10 brother combinations to both suit up for the Red Wings.

On his first day of Red Wings training camp, Glover received the typical Detroit welcome from Gordie Howe during the team’s initial scrimmage.

“He welcomed me with an elbow in the chops,” Glover told the Kitchener-Waterloo Record in a 2017 interview. “As soon as I went behind the net, checking with him, all of a sudden – Bang! ‘Oh, jeezus. Gotta be Gordie.’ Howe looked at me and said, ‘Welcome to the league, kid.’”

Part Of Red Wings History

Early that season on Nov. 27, 1960, Howe assisted on a Glover goal to become the first player in NHL history to register 1,000 career points.

60 yrs ago today, Gordie Howe becomes the 1st player in NHL history to reach the 1000 career point milestone. It comes via an assist on a Howie Glover goal as part of a 2-0 @DetroitRedWings win vs the Leafs at Olympia Stadium and in the 938th career game for "Mr. Hockey" as well pic.twitter.com/AzPK8HUsMz

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 28, 2020

Glover’s first season with the Wings was spectacular. Skating on a line with Gerry Melnyk and Val Fonteyne, he netted 21 goals and played in the Stanley Cup final as Detroit lost in six games to the Blackhawks.

He beat Canadiens goalie Charlie Hodge at the Montreal Forum for his 20th goal of the campaign, but it was another night that stood out in Glover’s mind. On January 4, 1961 he fired a hat-trick past Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Johnny Bower, who’d win the Vezina Trophy that season.

His second season in Detroit didn’t go as well. Glover blew his knee out in a game at Toronto. He scored seven goals in 39 games for the Red Wings.

ON THIS DAY in hockey history (February 14, 1935): Winger Howie Glover was born in Toronto, Ontario. Glover played 144 NHL games for the Blackhawks/Red Wings/Rangers/Canadiens. His brother Fred was also an NHL player/coach #VintageHockey #NHL pic.twitter.com/TcgAqasbyl

— Vintage Hockey Showcase (@hockey_vintage) February 14, 2021

“You can retire from it, but you don’t forget it,” Glover said. “The times you played junior, the times you played minor pro, the times you played the big pros – they are totally in your head all the time.”

He played six seasons with the AHL Cleveland Barons. Glover was honored with induction into the Greater Cleveland Hall of Fame.

Glover played 14 pro seasons, but was equally as proud of the 20-plus years he spent as a City of Kitchener Crossing Guard.