Tim Horton was born in Cochrane, Ontario on January 12, 1930. He died in 1974...just 44 years old.

He played the Canadian game for 24 seasons, mostly with the Toronto Maple Leafs and as a defensemen. He wasn't a big man, just 180 lbs with a height of 5 feet 10 inches.

Tim played on 4 Stanley Cup teams and was selected to 4 All-Stars teams. He was the winner of the J.P. Bickell Award as the team's most valuable player in 1968 - 1969 hockey season. He carries the Toronto team record game streak of 486 games. He was also the first Leaf to play in 1000 games.

Hockey legend, Gordie Howe called Tim Horton, "hockey's strongest man". George Armstrong was quoted as saying, "No finer person, teammate or hockey player that ever lived". According to Bobby Hull, "Few players brought more dedication or brought more honour to the game. He was my idea of a super pro".

In the early 1970s Horton played first with the New York Rangers then with the Pittsburgh Penguins and ending with nearly two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.

Tim Horton was killed in a car accident on February 21st, 1974, between Toronto and Buffalo. He was on his way home after a game.

Sources: Best of Hockey (15 Best Defensemen) pages 132-133.