Howard “Howie” Meeker

Born in Kitchener in November of 1923, Howie Meeker has enjoyed a very successful and diversified career. He played Junior hockey from 1939 to 1940 with Kitchener and 1941 to 1942 with Stratford. He served overseas from 1942 to 1946 with the Royal Canadian Engineers, then played eight consecutive years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, four times Stanley Cup winner in that period, followed by coaching a few years in Ontario and the United States, returning to Toronto as Coach and General Manager.

Meeker moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1958 to do sports broadcasting. He soon became involved in sports generally.

As a result of his coaching, the quality of sports in Newfoundland was noticeably upgraded. In 1968 he was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission on youth and sports for the Province and subsequently he became a hockey commentator and analyst for CBC.

Elected in 1951, he served one term as Conservative member for South Waterloo in the House of Commons.