Joe Turner

Who was Joe Turner?

Joe Turner was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 1 game in the National Hockey League. Born in Windsor, Ontario, he played with the Detroit Red Wings.

Turner played with the Guelph Indians of the Ontario Hockey Association and led the league in goals allowed on three occasions. Detroit, which held his rights, sent him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Indianapolis Capitals, in 1941. There he played in the first AHL All-Star Game and was a first team All-Star as goaltender. He would also lead the Capitals to a Calder Cup championship. On January 5, 1942, he replaced an injured Johnny Mowers in a 3–3 tie against the Toronto Maple Leafs for his only appearance in the NHL.

After the season, he signed up for the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company K, 311th Infantry, 78th Division and fought in World War II. He was originally classified as Missing in Action in the Hurtgen Forest, Germany on December 13, 1944. For his service, the International Hockey League named its championship trophy, the Turner Cup, after him.