Bobby Orr has been my favourite hockey player all of my life, since before I went to school. In those days you would mostly learn about players in books and magazines and from The Hockey News. I also learned from 3 older brothers who were fans, and always had Hockey magazines around at the house. I used to cut them up and make scrapbooks of my favourite players, and still have some from 1975. Hockey cards were also one of the best ways to learn about the players, and I still have a lot of my cards from Elementary School, as I'm one of the lucky ones that had a Mom who never threw them out. From grade one, my first year buying and trading sports cards at Sherwood School with my friends, one of my earliest hockey card memories I have is being attached to the '72-'73 Bobby Orr card. I’ve had it now over 50 years. It used to travel with me everywhere. I can’t tell you how big Bobby Orr was to us kids in 1972 at the peak of his power. Everyone, and I mean everyone worshipped him. Girls and boys, young and old. I remember bringing that card to elementary school in my Jean jacket pocket to show it off. There were no plastic sleeves to protect them back then. We collected for the love of it. It was Bobby Orr. I would flash this card like a Wayne and Garth backstage pass to the older kids, and bam, instant respect. This was my first hockey painting in the "Boyhood Legends" collection. I have been dying to paint The Bobby Orr for decades. I used to draw him a lot as a boy in the 70's. The reference image I chose was from Tony Triolo, at Madison Square Garden, 1967. It captures a 19 year old Orr still becoming The Greatest all-around hockey player ever. I painted myself in the crowd as a boy because I know what young fans like myself would look like, we'd be staring in awe. If you are lucky enough to paint what you love, I hope I get to paint Mr. Orr 100 more times, in all phases of his career. Many fans still feel the need to debate on who the Greatest hockey player of All-Time is. 
For me, Hockey is a two way sport. Five Bobby Orr’s on the ice against Five Wayne Gretzky’s?! 
Please, it's Mr. Orr every time, and it ain’t even close.
"Cut out that Mr. Orr stuff, my name is Bobby." I learned that in grade one too.