Former Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard spoke with the Bangor Daily News’s Larry Mahoney about his decision to retire from hockey recently:
“With the state that we’re in with the pandemic, I didn’t want to leave and not be able to see my wife and kids,” Howard said. “It’s so nice to be just dad instead of Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard.”
Howard and wife Rachel (Miller) have four children.
“I sat Rachel down the first week of December and told her I was done getting hit by pucks,” he said.
Howard loves being able to spend more time with his family. He is the head coach of 9-year-old James IV’s hockey team and an assistant coach for 6-year-old Henry’s team. The Howards’ other children are Olivia, 2, and 10-month old Louis.
James and Henry are forwards, not goalies, and that is fine by their father.
“Scoring goals is where the money is,” quipped Howard, who is enjoying life at home. “I have been doing little things around the house, whatever needs to be done. I’d much rather do this than be stuck in some hotel room,” he said.
