Miles Gilbert Horton, higher often called “Tim” Horton due to a nickname his mom gave him earlier than giving start, was born on Jan. 12, 1930, in Cochrane, Ontario, a mining area within the north of the province. Horton stood out from the crows in lots of methods, together with from the primary time he laced up the skates. He loved a profitable junior profession and was named the highest defenseman within the Ontario Hockey Affiliation in 1949 for his efficiency with the St. Michael’s Majors.
He’s recognized for extra than simply hockey, although – you would possibly know him as essentially the most recognizable identify in espresso and donuts in all of Canada, too. As a 24-year veteran of the NHL and a profitable businessman, he made an affect in additional methods than one, and the legacy he left behind has made him remembered by tens of millions.
The Man They Known as “Superman”
Horton was extensively thought of one of many strongest, hardest gamers within the NHL, whether or not you have been enjoying with or towards him. This earned him the nickname “Superman,” coined by legendary Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender and a longtime teammate of his, Johnny Bower. Bower believed Horton might carry a 40-gallon oil drum over his head, with out truly ever seeing him full this feat. Fellow Leafs legend and teammate Dave Keon as soon as recalled Horton throwing railroad ties round “like they have been toothpicks.” Maybe extra unbelievable than that was Leafs defenseman Bob Baun’s recounting of an occasion when he noticed Horton carry barrels of cement and barricade an intersection in Quebec.
Apart from the off-ice tales and tales, Horton additionally earned reward for his energy on the ice. Actually, Gordie Howe – “Mr. Hockey” himself – known as Horton “the strongest participant in hockey.” That’s fairly the praise from Howe. He additionally earned compliments from one other dynamic and legendary ahead, Bobby Hull, who additionally praised his energy.
I figured I used to be a fairly sturdy man after a summer time of labor on my farm. Then I’d go towards Horton.
Bobby Hull
What’s fascinating is that Horton’s eyesight was reportedly so poor that, off the ice, he needed to put on thick-framed glasses in his common life, very like Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent. That earned him that nickname, too, really becoming for what he did on the ice and the way he acted off it.
Horton: One of many 100 Best NHL Gamers
In 2017, the NHL celebrated its a hundredth anniversary of existence and commemorated its anniversary with an inventory of the 100 Best NHL Gamers. Amongst these 100 gamers named to this esteemed checklist by a panel of hockey executives, members of the media, and NHL alumni, was none apart from Horton.
Horton performed 1,446 video games over 24 NHL seasons, scoring 115 targets, 403 assists, and 518 factors. His 518 factors rank sixty fourth all-time amongst NHL defensemen, inserting him comfortably among the many biggest defensemen to ever play the sport.
After spending three seasons within the American Hockey League (AHL), Horton performed his first full season with the Maple Leafs within the 1952-53 season. He shortly grew to become an offensive menace from the backend, boasting a deadly shot and scoring capability that was unusual for defensemen at that cut-off date. “I keep in mind his coming in and also you’d begin to take it waist-high and it comes up a little bit greater, a little bit greater and eventually on the finish, you’d duck out,” stated former Chicago Blackhawks goalie Glenn Corridor on Horton’s shot. He wasn’t simply recognized for his shot, although. He additionally possessed stellar passing and was clutch in huge moments when it most mattered.
Associated: A Frequent Floor: The place Hockey Meets Espresso
Horton gained 4 Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs in his time with the crew, the primary of which got here in 1962, their first Cup championship in 11 seasons. He scored three targets and 13 assists for 15 factors in 12 playoff video games, setting a report for many factors by a defenseman in a single playoff season, with the purpose that set the report coming off a go that arrange the Cup-winning aim in Sport 6 of the Stanley Cup Closing towards the Blackhawks.
He had an amazing shot at a time when defensemen didn’t have nice pictures.
Glenn Corridor
Horton spent almost 20 years as a Maple Leaf, however he bounced round a few completely different NHL groups within the later a part of his profession. After the Leafs’ Stanley Cup win in 1967, the final Cup they’ve gained, they retooled the crew, which included parting methods with him. He performed components of two seasons with the New York Rangers after which was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins within the Intra-League Draft in 1971. He was then claimed within the Intra-League Draft the next 12 months in 1972 by the Buffalo Sabres, the final crew he would play for.
The “Horton Bear Hug”
Horton was as powerful as they arrive, however there’s one factor he by no means was: a grimy participant. As a substitute of enjoying imply and soiled like a few of the most well-known agitators in NHL historical past, he relied on his large energy and old-school toughness to outmuscle his opponents and play the sport the correct method, all whereas remaining extremely troublesome to play towards. On the identical time, he was capable of relax the sport and play the sport at his personal tempo, all making for the really nice participant that he was.
Within the Canadian ten-part/ten-hour documentary mini-series Legends of Hockey, launched in 2001 and that includes outstanding members of the hockey world profiling the historical past of hockey, former Detroit Crimson Wings participant Norm Ullman spoke on combating Horton through the period they performed in.
You may additionally like:
NHL Rumors: Blues, Bruins, Canucks, Maple Leafs
Expensive Santa: Maple Leafs’ 2021 Christmas Want Checklist
Maple Leafs Each day Obtain – Recap, Stats, Accidents & Information
Expensive Santa: Sabres’ 2021 Christmas Want Checklist
Sabres Each day Obtain – Recap, Stats, Accidents & Information
“Combating Tim Horton? I can’t actually keep in mind him in a punch-up,” Ullman stated on “Legends of Hockey.” “Most opponents, even the hardest, averted him as a result of when he obtained shut and had an opportunity to place these arms round you, you have been performed.”This tactic of Horton’s that Ullman described was known as the “Horton Bear Hug,” a becoming identify for what equated to a bear wrapping its arms round you.
The Horton Bear Hug! It makes me shiver a little bit simply to consider seeing a man caught in it.
Norm Ullman
Those that dared to mess with Horton on the ice discovered the laborious method simply how intimidating the Horton Bear Hug really was. Throughout a sport in his rookie season, Boston Bruins heart Derek Sanderson slashed Horton whereas forechecking within the offensive zone, and proceeded to do it once more, incomes the bear hug that was about to return his method.
“He put the bear hug on me and began to squeeze,” stated Sanderson. “I heard my ribs groan and thought they have been all going to crack. It actually began to harm, after which he let go and tossed me on my again like a towel. I by no means slashed him or challenged him once more.” Horton is likely to be Clark Kent off the ice, however as Sanderson discovered, it’s higher to not mess with Superman on the ice.
Tim Horton’s – A Legacy of Donuts & Espresso
Horton had a prolific NHL profession, profitable 4 Stanley Cup championships with the Maple Leafs and ending as runner-up for the Norris Trophy twice, and incomes recognitions as an NHL All-Star. Nonetheless, the identify “Tim Horton” is widely known at this time because the fast-food franchise serving up doughnuts and low.
Horton based “Tim Horton Donuts” in 1964, establishing the primary location in Hamilton, Ontario. He based Tim Horton Donuts, later abbreviated to “Tim Horton’s” after an preliminary enterprise into the hamburger restaurant trade. He additionally had a short stint of proudly owning a sports activities automobile dealership, including to the legend of the person that was Tim Horton.
It’s protected to say now that he made the correct selection by switching over to espresso and doughnuts. In 2020, Tim Horton’s operated and franchised 4,949 eating places worldwide, with 4,286 being in Canada. The second-largest quantity of eating places in anyone nation was 621, in the US. Branded as “Tim Horton’s Cafe & Bake Store” within the U.S., the restaurant chain is huge in American border cities, reminiscent of Buffalo, New York, the final NHL metropolis Horton performed in in his NHL profession.
Tim Horton – A Life Lower Tragically Brief
After being claimed by the Buffalo Sabres within the 1972 intraleague draft, Horton performed two seasons with the Sabres. He was reunited with former Maple Leafs coach and basic supervisor (GM) George “Punch” Imlach, who grew to become the coach and GM of the Sabres in 1970, just some years earlier. Horton, who was 44 years outdated and within the twilight of his enjoying days when negotiating his new contract with the Sabres, was capable of persuade Imlach to incorporate a brand new sports activities automobile within the contact. Imlach reluctantly agreed, and Horton obtained his new automobile.
After a sport on Feb. 20, 1974 towards the Maple Leafs in Toronto, Horton was driving himself again throughout the border to Buffalo in that very automobile given to him as a part of his new contract. Whereas driving close to St. Catharines, Ontario, he misplaced management of the automobile and proceeded to roll over a number of instances earlier than finally being killed. He was 44 years outdated.
Statistics & Trophies
Tim Horton’s checklist of accomplishments over his 24 NHL seasons is lengthy, together with his private accolades and crew accolades, alike. Though he by no means gained the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s finest defenseman, he did end as runner-up on two separate events.
Nationwide Hockey League (24 seasons)
- 4 Stanley Cup Championships (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967)
- Performed in NHL All-Star Sport (1954, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1969)
- NHL First All-Star Group (1964, 1968, 1969)
- NHL Second All-Star Group (1954, 1963, 1967)
American Hockey League (3 seasons)
- AHL First All-Star Group (1952)
The final sport Horton performed earlier than his tragic loss of life was his 1,446th common season sport, which stood because the NHL report for 25 years as essentially the most video games performed by a defenseman. He was voted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 1977.
Join our NHL Historical past Substack publication
