From 1937 until 1965 was the trainer and equipment manager for many of UBC's greatest football, basketball, rugby and track teams. Was trainer for Canada's 1964 Olympic hockey team based at UBC.
Johnny Owen, well known as a local hockey player and referee, was hired by UBC in 1937 to be a coach, trainer and manager. On October 5,1937 just after UBC's Varsity Stadium opened, Johnny was appointed stadium manager. He was henceforth the "proctor, janitor and general handyman of the stadium ". In his stadium office, "he is bothered a million times a day... for an old pair of shorts, a football, some tape, a shoelace or even a rubdown." According to the Ubyssey, "His office was packed every lunch hour as he busied himself pouring tea for all the visitors between bites of his own lunch. Johnny was never without a smile and a contagious jovial spirit no matter how hard he had to work."
A major portion of Owen's responsibilities was that of trainer to UBC's men's athletic teams. From the late 1930s to the early 1960s, he provided the training and equipment for many men's teams including some of the greatest football, rugby, track, and basketball teams in UBC history. Included among "his boys" were six Western Canadian intercollegiate football championship teams and three Canadian basketball championship teams. According to long time Vancouver sports writer and Owen admirer, Alf Cottrell, UBC teams seemed to take on the characteristics for which Owen became popular, "...his mental cleanness, his unfailing good temper and imperturbability."
In 1945 students and athletes recognized Johnny's value as he was awarded an Honorary Big Block from the university for services over and above the call of duty.
Owen served as UBC coach as well, sharing with Maury Van Vliet head coaching duties of the hockey team in 1937/38 and taking over again as Thunderbird hockey coach in 1941/42.
In 1964, Owen was the trainer of Canada's Olympic hockey team (based at UBC) under coach Father David Bauer, competing at the Innsbruck, Austria Winter Olympics. The team's goalie, Ken Broderick, stated "Words can't describe how much help he was to us, he was one hell of a guy."
On January 1, 1965, in his 28th year of being very much part of the campus, Owen died of heart failure. The "wizard with the tape" was liked by everyone. According to the Ubyssey he was considered a father to the athletes, sharing their glory, suffering in defeat, while never accepting praise for himself - giving it all to the players. Athletic Director Bus Phillips said "Losing Johnny is a terrific blow to the UBC athletes and athletics, it will be hard to believe that he is gone." According to those in athletics, with Johnny's passing the atmosphere in the department would never be the same.
So moved were associates of Johnny Owen that shortly after his death a group of friends decided to honour his unique contribution to sport in BC by establishing a John Owen Memorial scholarship fund. The John Owen Hockey Championship trophy was also introdued to the Canada West League. In addition, the John Owen Pavilion and playing facilities were built on the south campus and opened in 1967 by former UBC athlete, federal politician and Canadian Prime Minister, John Turner.
In 1945, the Ubyssey already recognizing Owen as something special, suggested that, "if we ever stop to construct a pattern of sport on this campus, we'll find Johnny Owen woven into the stuff of other men's lives."
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
