16 years later, another NHLer drowned in August. This time, it was Ross Lowe and he was victim to Lake Haliburton. Unlike Seibert, Lowe was just at the start of what might have been a promising NHL career. He had already appeared in 77 games previously in the league.
Lowe was the Les Cunningham Award recipient in the American Hockey League for 1954-55 after transitioning from defenseman to winger. The New York Rangers liked what they saw and signed Ross for the 1955-56 season. However, Lowe lost his life on August 8, 1955 at just 26 years old. He never even got to training camp.
Ross Lowe – Junior / Minor Pro
Lowe started out in Junior ‘A’ with his hometown Oshawa Generals. Ross played for the Gens for parts of four seasons from 1944-45 to 1947-48. Over his career with Oshawa, he scored 48 and assisted on 30 for 78 points over 89 regular season games. In 26 Robertson Cup playoff games, he added 23 points.
His first pro season came in 1948-49 and was spent with the Hershey Bears in the AHL. In an unusual hockey season, the Bears placed second of six in the Eastern Division with just 61 points over the 68 game schedule. Hershey placed 33 points behind the Providence Reds who placed first in the division. Overall, the Bears were just seventh in the eleven team league and would have placed last in the Western Division by 13 points.
However, the Bears and Lowe reached the Calder Cup finals and earned a showdown with Providence. The Red won the series and the championship but it took the full seven games. Hershey actually outscored their opponents 23-20 on the series.
After dabbling in the NHL, Ross returned to the minors on a full-time basis in 1953-54. With the Victoria Cougars of the WHL, he scored 15 and assisted on 23 for 38 points over 66 games. Lowe’s 101 penalty minutes placed him fifth in the league. The Billy Reay coached Cougars finished fifth in the seven team WHL and lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Calgary Stampeders.
It all came together for Lowe in 1954-55. With the Eddie Shore coached Springfield Indians in the AHL, he scored 32 and assisted on 50 for 82 points over 60 regular season games. Ross led the team in goals, assists and points. In the AHL, he placed sixth for goals and tied for second for assists. His 82 points tied him for second in the race for the John B. Sollenberger Trophy with Ken Wharram of the Buffalo Bisons. As mentioned, Lowe came away with the Les Cunningham Trophy as the AHL’s most valuable player.
Ross Lowe – NHL
In his tragically shortened hockey career, Ross appeared in 77 regular season National Hockey League games between 1949-50 and 1951-52 with the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens as a defenseman. He was traded from Boston to the Habs on February 14, 1951 for Hal Laycoe.
His top season came in 1950-51, appearing in 43 regular season games with the Bruins and Canadiens. He totalled eight points on five goals and three assists. Lowe played his only two Stanley Cup playoff games that year with Montreal. The Habs reached the finals before falling to Bill Barilko and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After his outstanding 1954-55 season in the American Hockey League, Ross signed with the New York Rangers in June, 1955. Obviously, he never got the chance. As it turned out, the 1955-56 Rangers reached the post season for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 1949-50. New York fell to the Canadiens in the opening round and were led by sophomore Andy Bathgate.
Lowe’s legacy did live on. The Ross Lowe Memorial Trophy was introduced to honour the MVP of the Whitby Juveniles. In 2004, he was posthumously inducted into the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Ross Lowe – Rookie Card
The Ross Lowe rookie card appears as number 18 in the 1951-52 Parkhurst set. The rookie card is the only hockey card ever produced of Lowe. He is shown as a member of the Montreal Canadiens and the card is rated as a common.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1944-45 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 17 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| 1945-46 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 23 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 40 |
| 1946-47 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 17 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| 1947-48 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 36 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 80 |
| 1948-49 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 43 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 55 |
| 1949-50 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 57 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 76 |
| 1949-50 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950-51 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 43 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 40 |
| 1950-51 | Hershey-Buffalo | AHL | 25 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 57 |
| 1950-51 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | Playoffs only | ||||
| 1951-52 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 31 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 42 |
| 1952-53 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 43 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 53 |
| 1953-54 | Victoria Cougars | WHL | 66 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 101 |
| 1954-55 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 60 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 91 |
| NHL Totals | 77 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 82 | ||