Howie Menard, the younger brother of Hillary Menard, spent his junior career with both the Toronto Marlboros and the Hamilton Red Wings of the OHA from 1959-60 to 1961-62. In his rookie season with the Marlboros he scored 21 goals and 50 points. Midway through his second year he was traded to the Hamilton Red Wings. In 1961-62 he scored 12 goals and 44 points in 48 regular season games. The Wings went on to win the Memorial Cup that year, with Menard leading all players with 13 assists. He finished with 22 points in 14 playoff games.
Menard, who was known for his strong bodychecking abilities and hard slap shot, moved on to the professional ranks joining the AHL for the 1962-63 season with the Pittsburgh Hornets. He spent the 1963-64 season with the Cincinnati Wings of the CHL and made his debut in the NHL that season when he played 3 games with the Detroit Red Wings. Menard spent the following season with the Memphis Wings of the CHL before returning to the AHL with the Springfield Indians.
Menard spent the 1965-66 and 1966-67 season in Springfield. For the next two seasons, he shared his time playing for both the Springfield Kings of AHL and the Los Angeles Kings. The 1969-70 season was his only full season in the NHL playing for both the Chicago Black Hawks and the Oakland Seals, scoring four goals and 14 points. This season marked the end of Menard's NHL career. In 151 regular season games he scored 23 goals and 65 points.
Following his NHL career, he returned to the AHL and played for the Providence Reds in 1970-71, the Baltimore Clippers in 1971-72, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the WHL in 1972-73, Baltimore Clippers in 1973-74 and 1974-75, Providence Reds in 1974-75, and back to the Baltimore Clippers for 1975-76. Menard finished his career with the Whitby Warriors in OHA Senior League in 1977, playing alongside the likes of Mike Keenan and Eddie Shack.
Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame
