Tim Horton

Maple Leafs legend and co-founder of Tim Hortons

Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton (January 12, 1930 – February 21, 1974) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 24 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent the majority of his career playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, later playing with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. Horton was a four-time Stanley Cup Champion in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967 with the Maple Leafs. In 2017, Horton was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. He died at age 44 following a single-vehicle crash in which drugs and alcohol were involved. A successful businessman, Horton co-founded the Tim Hortons restaurant chain.

Quick Facts

Hall of Fame

1977

Born

12 January 1930

Birthplace

Cochrane, Ontario, Canada

Died

21 February 1974

Place of death

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Position

Defence

Shoots

Right

Played for

Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres

Lore & Background

Horton was born in Cochrane, Ontario, to Aaron Oakley Horton and Ethel May (née Irish). He was christened Miles Gilbert but came to be known as Tim. He had one brother, Jerry Horton. The family moved to Duparquet, Quebec in 1935, returned to Cochrane in 1938, and moved to Sudbury in 1945.

Horton grew up playing hockey in Cochrane and later near Timmins. In 1947, he moved to Toronto to play junior hockey for St. Michael's Majors. He was named best defenceman in the Ontario Hockey Association in 1948–1949. He turned pro in 1949 with the Maple Leafs farm team, the Pittsburgh Hornets, and played his first NHL game on March 26, 1950.

He won the 1952 AHL championship and was named an American League All-Star. Horton played his first full season with the Maple Leafs in 1952 and remained a Leaf until 1970, winning four Stanley Cups. In 1952, a bodycheck by Bill Gadsby broke his leg and fractured his jaw, but he returned the next season. Horton was known for his physical style, poise, and durability.

He was an effective puck carrier and played right wing in 1964–65. He appeared in seven NHL All-Star Games, was named a first-team All-Star three times (1964, 1968, 1969) and second-team three times (1954, 1963, 1967). Between February 11, 1961, and February 4, 1968, he played 486 consecutive regular season games, a Leafs club record and an NHL record for defencemen until broken in 2007. Horton had a reputation for using a bear hug in fights.

He was generally acknowledged as the strongest man in the game. In 1962, he set a league postseason record for defencemen with 16 points. In March 1970, the Maple Leafs traded Horton to the New York Rangers for future considerations. He spent the last 15 games of the 1969–70 season and all of the 1970–71 season with the Rangers.

At the start of the 1971–72 season, he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the intra-league draft and signed a one-year contract for an estimated $100,000. With a broken ankle and shoulder separation, he played 44 games for the Penguins. In 1972, Buffalo Sabres head coach and general manager Punch Imlach acquired Horton in the intra-league draft. In 1973, Horton helped the Sabres reach their first playoff appearance. He signed a contract extension in the off-season. While playing for the Leafs, Horton wore number 7.

Reader's Guide

Tim Horton was a legendary NHL defenceman known for his strength, durability, and consecutive games streak. He won four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs and later played for the Rangers, Penguins, and Sabres. Off the ice, he co-founded the Tim Hortons restaurant chain. His life ended tragically in a car crash involving alcohol and drugs.