Honky the Christmas Goose was a Johnny Bower record that wasn't made to be broken
Johnny Bower, one of the most beloved Toronto Maple Leafs of all time, celebrated his 92nd birthday Nov. 8. During the 1960s, he was one of the best NHL players on record.
CBC producer Chip Young had written a short Christmas story about a wild goose that ate so much that it couldnt fly, but in the end, is able to save Santa Claus. He turned the story into a song with the help of composer Orville Hoover, and then, with the help of broadcaster and former Maple Leafs public relations manager Ed Fitkin, approached Toronto coach Punch Imlach to get permission for one of the Maple Leafs to record the song he had written.
Granted permission to try to recruit a singer, Young went out to the Tam OShanter rink in Scarborough where the Leafs practised at the time.
He came into the dressing room and wanted to know if anybody on the team would be interested in singing these songs, recalled Bower. Ive never seen so many guys undress and get into the shower so quickly in my life! I was the only one left sitting there. He said, I guess youre the only one left, and I said, Look sir, I cant sing. I thought he was nuts!
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https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2016/12/11/honky-was-a-johnny-bower-record-that-wasnt-made-to-be-broken.html