Tim hoped this day would come. Two instants during Bo's life gave him confidence it would.
When Bowie William Horvat was 11-years-old, he played for the Toronto Red Wings (pictured above). They had traveled to Chicago, Illinois, for a tournament and were playing in the championship game against Honeybaked. Down 2-0 going into the 3rd period, Horvat put the team on his back scoring three straight goals in a 3-2 golden finish. Despite his heroic late game efforts, Horvat did not receive the player of the game award.
"I felt bad for him," said Tim. "Coming out of the dressing room, I congratulated him and said great game and he said he was happy they won, but happier that Josh had been given player of the game. Right then and there I knew it would always be about the team for him. I realized he had the makings of being a true leader."
Bo was 16-years-old when he was selected ninth overall by the London Knights in the 2011 OHL draft. Twenty selections later, London picked a goaltender from Michigan named Ian Jenkins, who was set to become Bo's new teammate.
Prior to the season Jenkins, then 15-years-old, fell out of the back of a friend's pick-up truck and passed away from injuries incurred. Although he and Bo weren't friends, they had competed against each other, and driving back from Jenkins' funeral in Detroit, Bo decided what number he'd wear in London, the same number he wears with the Canucks.
"Bo was looking out the window and I asked him if he was okay. He said yes and that he'd chosen his number, which the Knights needed by the next day. He said he wanted to wear 53 in tribute to Ian Jenkins, who was number 35. I looked over at him and then I looked the other way and I had tears in my eyes. I thought wow, that's pretty cool.
"That really touched me and right then and there I knew he was real genuine and humble, and he thought of others, and he still does to this day. That's not something you can teach."
