The day Tim Horton came to Kincardine

To the Editor:

Lately, we are seeing a heartwarming television commercial featuring Wayne Gretzky and his dad, Walter. When Wayne was six years old, his hockey idol, Tim Horton, came to Brantford to open the first Tim Hortons Donut shop in the city. Walter is shown with the autograph box he kept for Wayne’s first autographs. Wayne pulls out a card that says “Wayne – Best Wishes – Tim Horton” and then gets emotional.

I want to tell you about the day Tim Horton came to Kincardine in the 1960s. But first, I want to give you a little Toronto Maple Leafs history in Kincardine.

In the '60s and '70s, the majority of young minor hockey players wore blue Leafs sweaters to their practices. There were a few like Henry Dunlop who wore his Ranger sweater; likewise, his big brother, Dave, in his Habs jersey and their friend, Brow Fry, in his Chicago sweater.

Then in the '80s, things changed. Kids stopped wearing Leafs jerseys – it was so bad that one year in the Tyke program (five- and six-year-olds), Kendra Fisher was the only player wearing a Leafs sweater. So now with the Leafs finally looking better than they have for many decades, it will be interesting to see if Derrick Burrows Kincardine Minor Hockey Association Tyke program participants are sprouting a few more Leafs jerseys in the new decade.

So, fast forward back to the '60s. I had always been a big Leafs fan, ever since I was a kid. The only time in my life that I ever dropped the Leafs and cheered for another NHL team, was when Detroit brought Denny up from Edmonton to play goal for the Wings.

We started an annual Father and Son Minor Hockey Banquet in 1963, held in the basement hall of the United Church. Jack Graham and John Mitchell were friends with Harold Ballard, one of the owners of the Leafs, and through Harold they were able to secure six Leafs to come to the banquets over the years. Three of the Leafs were Captain George Armstrong, Dave Keon and Tim Horton. Memory fails me who the other three were - maybe Allan Stanley, Larry Hillman, Bobby Baun, Larry Jeffrey? I do know that DarryL Sittler, Don MacKenny and Eddie Shack came in the early '70s. Would you believe that every one of those Leafs in the '60s tore up their honorarium cheques when I presented them to them at the end of the banquets. Gracious or what?

George Armstrong, “The Chief,” was the first Leafs speaker we ever had - what a classy gentleman. He was indigenous and told the kids what it was like growing up in the far north and how he had persevered and made his way in life through hockey. Inspirational!

Dave Keon gave a great speech when he came and gave the kids lots of good tips on how to improve their skills. After the banquet, I had a good chat with Dave on the way out to his car. He found my wife’s name was Lola the same name as his wife. I told him that Lola was a huge fan of his so be darned if he didn’t ask if he could meet her. Lola was supervising the public roller skating at the rink (Lambton Street Arena) that night in my absence so we boogied down in Davey’s sports car to visit her. Lola and Davey must have talked for close to a half-hour about various and sundry things – you would have thought they had known each other for years.

So, Tim Horton came to town for the banquet and he gave a super speech to the kids and their dads. He presented team and individual awards and at the conclusion of the evening, he signed autographs for everybody and all kinds of pictures were taken with him. Tim was such a laid back, likeable person with a big smile on his face - you had to like him even if you were not a Leafs fan.

Tim was reputed to be the strongest man in the NHL. He was only average in height, didn’t look really big but he had a barrel chest, his hands were big and he had thick wrists. When you shook his hand, you knew he was really, really strong. I think he was just born naturally strong, just like two Tiverton boys we all know, Andy MacKenzie and Nute Catto.

So, after things wrapped up, I walked Tim out to his car, gave him his cheque which he tore up. As we approached his car, I said, “Holy Smokes!” It’s a brand spankin’ big new shinny silver grey Chevy Corvette! Tim knew I was in awe of his car and asked me if I would like to go for a ride in it. You know my answer.

We headed down to Queen Street and then north up to the Co-op store corner (ironically, now Tim Hortons) and turned down to Huron Terrace and then south. When we got to the Walker House and with zero traffic on the horizon, Tim put the gas pedal down and started working the gears. A second later, as we passed Angus and Donna Wilson’s house going up the hill, I could feel the G-forces and my head was sinking back deep into the head rest!

Tim slowed the car down the rest of the way going down Huron Terrace. We turned down onto the Lakeshore Road and Tim sped the car up again. Man, with the curves on the road right along the lake, I thought I was in the Grand Prix in France. As we approached Any Burgess' house on Boiler beach, I said to myself, “O Lord, if Andy is outside and he sees us fly by, he will call his OPP brethren or Bill Nelson and Eugene Duke of the Kincardine Constabulary and they will chase us!” Thank goodness, Tim slowed down at the Boiler Beach corner at Andy’s and we headed back to town at a normal clip with me yakking all the way about the car.

What a ride! Best car ride of my life and with one of my all-time hockey heroes – the legendary Tim Horton. What a great guy! What a lifetime memory that I have been glad to share with Leafs fans in Kincardine for old time's sake and ditto for all you “other” hockey fans.

Long live Kincardine!

Slainte Mhath!
R. Keith Davidson
Former Kincardine recreation director and arena manager