The average length of a playing career in the National Hockey League is 5.5 years. Imagine the skill and determination it takes to sustain a professional career for twelve years. That’s exactly what Tim Bothwell did playing more than 500 NHL games. Tim’s love for the game began in the 1960’s thanks to his mom who constructed a backyard rink for her young family both in Dundas and here in Burlington, right around the corner on Shadeland Avenue. Prior to moving to Burlington in 1965, Tim played pee-wee hockey in the Dundas Minor Hockey League…starting at the ripe “old” age of 8. The young forward flourished in the Burlington Minor Hockey League being named to a number of All-Star teams. Initially, Tim played forward but transitioned to defense starting in his final year with the Burlington Barton Tubes Midgets. The following year he earned his way onto the roster of a powerful Burlington Mohawk championship team as an extra defenseman. In the 1972-73 season, Tim was recognized as the Junior B Burlington Mohawks “Most Promising Player.” The following season he was named the Mohawks Most Valuable Defenseman. Upon graduation – in 1974 - from Aldershot High School, the Ontario Scholar accepted a scholarship to Brown University – a prestigious Ivy League school. The curriculum at Brown allowed Tim to create his own major; combining Economics and Political Science. He set marks in both the classroom, graduating in the top 15% of his class and on the ice during his Brown Bears career. During his collegiate career, Tim was a three-time All-Ivy League First Team All-Star. In total, he played 85 games recording 28 goals and 85 assists; ending as the highest-scoring defenseman in Brown hockey history. He helped lead the Bears to the NCAA D1 Final Four Championships in 1976, earning a bronze medal. That team was inducted into the Brown Sports Hall of Fame last October. Tim had been inducted as an individual student-athlete in 1983. The two-time Bears captain’s earned Eastern College Athletic Conference First team All-Star status in the 1976-77 season. Tim graduated in 1978 from Brown and signed his first professional contract with the New York Rangers. He was assigned to the Rangers AHL team - the New Haven Nighthawks for the 1978-79 season. He had a remarkable rookie season for the Nighthawks; setting a team record for points by a rookie defenseman; named the team’s Most Valuable Player; leading his team to the Calder Cup finals. Tim played for three NHL teams during his distinguished career: the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Hartford Whalers. He was a three-time winner of the Emery Edge Award honouring the best plus/minus player on the team – twice with the St. Louis Blues and once with the Hartford. In the 1985-86 season, Tim was presented the Emery Award by “Mr. Hockey” – Gordie Howe. Tim retired from playing professional hockey in 1990 and began the second phase of his remarkable hockey career – coaching boys and girls; men and women – at all levels – spanning 27 years. Among his numerous achievements is serving as an assistant coach with the Canadian Women’s National Team that earned an Olympic gold medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics. In total Tim has coached in ten different leagues including the NHL, AHL, IHL, Major Junior with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Canadian University (both men and women at the University of Calgary), NCAA Division One (University of Vermont Women), the CWHL (Calgary Inferno) and aforementioned Women’s National Team on two separate occasions. Tim’s impressive career as both an athlete and builder is one that we in Burlington are very proud to display in the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.