TIM HORTONS: THE AUTOGRAPH

Late last year, Tim Hortons began a new ad campaign that featured Wayne Gretzky. The storyline revolved around a young Gretzky in 1968 being taken to a coffee shop to meet Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman Tim Horton, who was signing autographs. This was during the early stages of Horton rolling out his now popular chain of coffee shops.

Fast-forward to current day, and Gretzky is seen in the commercial with his father, Walter, and they are rummaging through a box containing memorabilia. They come across the napkin which was signed by Horton.

I made an immediate connection with the commercial, as I have my own version of the ad.

When my dad took me to Leaf games at the Gardens in the 1960s, we always made our way to the dressing room so I could collect autographs. In a moment I will never forget, Tim Horton signed a piece of paper to me.

He was so physically strong on the ice and when he got an opponent in his clutches, they seemed to disappear. I recall that I hesitantly stuck out my hand to shake his hand, and for a second, I thought Horton would crush it in the process.

Decades later, like Wayne Gretzky, I still have the Tim Horton autograph, and although the paper may have faded, the memory hasn't faded.