Growing up about 40 miles north of Toronto in Sharon, Ontario, Joseph had never been to a hockey school by the time he reached his mid-teens.
"Then, one day, a guy in town named Paul Saunders decided to help me out and sent me to Johnny Bower's Hockey School," Joseph said. "I learned so much, especially about different techniques to stop the puck.
"Oh, and about poke-checks too. He was great at that."
Decades later, when he watched fans at the airport go bonkers at the sight of Bower, Joseph was reminded of all the things he learned from the former Maple Leafs great.
"He always had time for everyone," Joseph said. "He was a class act through and through.
"He'll be missed."
Having been away with his family for Christmas, coach Mike Babcock was waiting for a flight back to Toronto on Tuesday when he learned of Bower's death. With time on his hands prior to departure, he began surfing the web for info about the Maple Leafs' legend.
"I've read a bunch of stuff on him in the airport tonight and it occurs to me that he was just a gentleman," Babcock said.
So much so, one of the priorities Babcock had after taking over as Maple Leafs coach on May 20, 2015, was to "have my picture taken with him."
"Johnny was a spectacular, spectacular man, that's what jumps out at you right away," Babcock said. "Even at his age, he lived large. He had an infectious personality and he made people feel great. It was fun to have him around."
Babcock has been privileged to be around some of the game's greats. During his time as Detroit Red Wings coach from 2005-15, there were numerous visits from Hockey Hall of Fame players, including Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.