 He did play against professionals in the ECAHA and IPHL.Bowie retired from major play in 1909 - along with Harvey Pulford, Harry Westwick and Alf Smith, one of the final players who had played in the 19th century - when the professional National Hockey Association formed and the Victorias faded from major hockey prominence.He played in ten games for the Vics in the next two seasons in lower level amateur competition, but his retirement was punctuated by an injury in 1910, when he broke his collarbone.