"The guy came to my place at 11 years old and we had an adult conversation. Not too many kids that age can hold a conversation back and forth, but he was grown up, a mature kid, focused," Levesque said. "Another time I was at their house and I was laughing with his parents and it was 8:30 on a Thursday night. He came down and he says, 'You guys have to keep it down, I'm trying to
Champ Bailey jersey sleep.' I'm going, 'Holy smokes, I'm going home at 10 and I have to beat my kids to get them to go to bed, and this guy is telling his parents to stay quiet.' He's phenomenal. He's always been focused. Whatever he has done, he has accomplished and done it well."
Several family friends credited Toews' parents, Bryan and Andree Gilbert, for his character.
"Bryan and Andree have always preached that type of philosophy where you always remember the people you grew up with," said Bob Saelens, one of Toews' former coaches. "His brother David is the
BRIAN DAWKINS jersey same way. They are so friendly and such kind people. You almost wish everybody would have parents that are as good people as they are, very supportive and caring of everyone."
Andree was obviously emotional after Mayor Katz announced the community center would be named in Toews' honor.
"When Jonathan started at 5 years old there was no community center, so they all played in the back. There were four outdoor rinks, and the parents all lined up by the snow banks and we watched our kids freezing out there," she told NHL.com. "Little by little we did fundraising, a
NEW LYNCH jersey lot of people in the community, to build this rink. Now it's named after my son. I had tears in my eyes. I was amazed. Usually you have to be great and die and then they name it after you."
Bryan, who got the honor of carrying both the Cup and Conn Smythe at various moments during the
John Elway jersey two days, loved hearing Mayor Katz call Toews, "Winnipeg's favorite son."
"That's so cool," Bryan told NHL.com. "Chicago is great and we love it there, but to hear it in
Dennis Smith throwback jersey your own city, that support, it just means that little bit more. It's unbelievable. To actually fulfill that dream and come here with the Cup, it brought tears to my eyes."
And smiles to thousands of Winnipeggers, who proudly call Jonathan Toews their own.
"If you want to talk about a true hometown hero, about a role model," Mayor Katz said before pausing … "I'll show you a picture of Jonathan Toews."