From: Philip St. George, thenorthbaybay.ca staff
A cross-country tour featuring the dried hand and forearm of former NHL player Tim Horton is stopping in North Bay.
Tour manager Angela Reynolds says travelling across the country with the petrified remains of Tim Horton’s right hand and forearm will be “like hanging out with 1/15th of a friend.”
“I’m just so excited to be travelling with Tim” says Reynolds. “Or at least, a bit of Tim. As many of you know, Tim was right handed and shot right too, so we thought it would be best to saw off his right hand, preserve it, and tour the country with it for Canada’s 150”.
The desiccated forearm and hand will visit almost 300 Tim Hortons locations over the next year, including two different Tim Hortons restaurants in North Bay.
“Oh yes, North Bay was so important to Tim. His family moved to Sudbury in 1945, so he would have had to pass through the city to get home a lot.”
The hand and forearm, which measures 12 inches in length, is part of the 2017-2018 Tim Horton’s Mummified Hand Tour. Reynolds says displaying Tim Horton’s amputated limb is a big boost for the company and a thrill for fans of the former hockey player.
“If you loved Tim, you’ll love his forearm and hand. He held so many sticks with this hand, and used it to punch so many naughty, naughty players.”
Hands on the Wheel
And how does the preserved remains of an NHL Hall of Famer travel?
In the Popemobile.
“That’s right, we’ve rented the ‘Popemobile’ to drive from city to city. We’ll have Tim’s truncated arm right up where everyone can see it. And once it arrives, we’re encouraging fans to take photos with Tim.”
For a small fee, fans of the former NHL defender can pose with, or even get hit by, the foot long Horton portion.
“Tim was an enforcer, and he still is. If you buy one of Tim’s new Gourmet Ginger Jellied Chicken Fingers™ you will receive a photo of you being punched by Tim’s dried up right hand.”
“How cool is that?!”
The preserved right hand and forearm will be in North Bay on Thursday, December 21st at the Cassells Tim Hortons from 6 to 10 pm, and then again on Friday, December 22nd from 1 to 5 pm at the Seymour location.
“Come shake hands with Tim!” says Reynolds. “But not too hard – he’s kind of brittle.”