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Hometown Hockey tour to roll into Okotoks

Okotoks’ passion for hockey is about to get a national platform. The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will roll into Okotoks on Feb. 23-24 for the first time during the fifth season of Sportsnet’s coast-to-coast showcase of our national pastime.
Oilers v Saints G1
Okotoks’ passionate hockey supporters will get a chance to celebrate the game at the Rogers Hometown Hockey stop, Feb. 23-24.

Okotoks’ passion for hockey is about to get a national platform. The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will roll into Okotoks on Feb. 23-24 for the first time during the fifth season of Sportsnet’s coast-to-coast showcase of our national pastime. “I’ve been working on this for the last number of months since I received a phone call from Rogers and an email back in March or April,” said Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson. “I happened by chance to meet with them in Halifax at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Convention and I’m over the moon that it’s now official, Hometown Hockey is coming to Okotoks February 23 and 24th. “It’s going to be phenomenal.” The mayor impressed upon Rogers what makes Okotoks such a hockey-mad community, one that was a top-10 finalist in the Kraft Hockeyville contest in 2016. From its minor hockey registration, the success of the Jr. A Oilers and Jr. B Bisons to the history of the Senior Oilers and its legendary figures around the game – the likes of hall-of-fame trainer Jim ‘Bearcat’ Murray and ‘Cowboy’ Bill Flett — Okotoks wasn’t a tough sell. “This is a huge sports town, a huge hockey town,” Robertson said. “One of the stats we like to promote is that we have more kids registered in hockey than the city of Lethbridge and they’re three times larger than us. “Hockey is such a passion in the town of Okotoks, as are other sports, but in particular having them (Hometown Hockey) come is very appropriate.” The weekend is a two-day celebration of the sport with live entertainment. Robertson said there will be a temporary hockey rink built on site with further details to come in the coming months. “We have Town staff assigned to this, we’ll be partnering with all of the hockey or sports or community agencies within the town,” he said. “Such as Okotoks Minor Hockey and perhaps some other sports organizations.” The February stop runs in conjunction with the Calgary Flames afternoon game at the Ottawa Senators on the 24th. Hometown Hockey tour hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone will be live on location in Okotoks for a viewing party and on the air for pre-game, intermission and post-game coverage showcasing the community’s hockey culture and history. Most events involve features on significant individuals and teams as well as live interviews with select minor hockey players. “I certainly brought up Bearcat Murray’s name, sort of a hockey legend, he’s in the Hockey Hall of Fame, he’s in our Wall of Fame,” Robertson said. “I put forward the name of Cowboy Bill Flett, of course he’s since passed away, but he played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Broad Street Bullies. “I heard on one of the local talk shows Ron MacLean actually referenced Peyton Krebs whose playing in the WHL right now and is an up-and-coming hockey talent.” The national tour kicks off Oct. 5 in Kitchener, Ont. Other stops include Bobby Orr’s hometown Parry Sound, picturesque Whistler, B.C., and Mount Pearl in Newfoundland/Labrador. Okotoks is one of five Alberta stops on the cross-country jaunt. “In a hockey culture as rich as Canada, we still have so many stories to share this season,” said Slone in a press release. “As we hit the road for a season complete with special milestones and visits to new communities like CFB Esquimalt and Enoch Cree Nation, we look forward to uniting all Canadian communities through the sport they love – hockey.” For those not able to attend the event, Hometown Hockey will be broadcasted on Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet NOW and Rogers NHL Live. For more information go to sportsnet.ca


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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