Tim Hicks performed a version of 'The Hockey Song' at the ceremony on Saturday.
photo: Dhiren Mahiban
Players admit they don’t know when or where they were the first time they heard ‘The Hockey Song’, but all agree to knowing every word of the iconic anthem.
On Saturday, ‘The Hockey Song’ originally written and performed by folksinger Stompin’ Tom Connors was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Released in 1973, the song is celebrating its 45th anniversary as a tune played in arenas around the world.
Connor Brown figures the first time he heard the song was while attending a Maple Leafs game as a child.
“I remember coming here and listening to it,” said Brown who grew up in nearby Etobicoke, Ontario. “You go to the Blue Jays game and you sing ‘Take me out to the ball game’ and you come here and sing (‘The Hockey Song’) - it’s a direct correlation to the sport. Everyone that loves the sport, loves the song so it’s pretty cool.”
It was during the 1992/93 season the Maple Leafs, who mainly had organist Jimmy Holmstrom playing during games began, incorporating ‘The Hockey Song’ into its game night set list.
On Saturday, ‘The Hockey Song’ originally written and performed by folksinger Stompin’ Tom Connors was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Released in 1973, the song is celebrating its 45th anniversary as a tune played in arenas around the world.
Connor Brown figures the first time he heard the song was while attending a Maple Leafs game as a child.
“I remember coming here and listening to it,” said Brown who grew up in nearby Etobicoke, Ontario. “You go to the Blue Jays game and you sing ‘Take me out to the ball game’ and you come here and sing (‘The Hockey Song’) - it’s a direct correlation to the sport. Everyone that loves the sport, loves the song so it’s pretty cool.”
It was during the 1992/93 season the Maple Leafs, who mainly had organist Jimmy Holmstrom playing during games began, incorporating ‘The Hockey Song’ into its game night set list.
Wendel Clark spent parts of 13 seasons in Toronto during his playing days and believes the song is synonymous with Maple Leafs home games. The 52-year-old native of Kelvington, Saskatchewan was the captain of the Maple Leafs during the 1992/93 season.
“That’s been my home song forever,” Clark said. “I didn’t realize it was ‘92/93 they started playing music during the games, not the organ anymore, as much.
“It’s been forever, since I turned pro, basically that means home games. For us, here in Toronto, that’s been a home game.”
Tom Connors, a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1996, passed away in 2013. On Saturday, his son, Tom Connors Jr., was on hand at Scotiabank Arena to receive a plaque in his dad’s honour.
“It’s going to last for hundreds of years,” he said. “As long as hockey is still being played, they’re going to be playing that song and every time I hear it, I think about all generations of hockey that has come and gone because everyone’s heard it for 40-50 years. The style of play might’ve changed, but the heart and soul of the game is still in that song and that’s going to be there forever.”
“That’s been my home song forever,” Clark said. “I didn’t realize it was ‘92/93 they started playing music during the games, not the organ anymore, as much.
“It’s been forever, since I turned pro, basically that means home games. For us, here in Toronto, that’s been a home game.”
Tom Connors, a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1996, passed away in 2013. On Saturday, his son, Tom Connors Jr., was on hand at Scotiabank Arena to receive a plaque in his dad’s honour.
“It’s going to last for hundreds of years,” he said. “As long as hockey is still being played, they’re going to be playing that song and every time I hear it, I think about all generations of hockey that has come and gone because everyone’s heard it for 40-50 years. The style of play might’ve changed, but the heart and soul of the game is still in that song and that’s going to be there forever.”
Despite the song being made popular by the Maple Leafs, Tom Connors was actually a fan of the Montreal Canadiens growing up in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Connors would frequently play, the Horseshoe Tavern – a downtown Toronto bar – and Tom Connors Jr. believes the Maple Leafs of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s could’ve inspired his father to write the song, which is in the style of a play-by-play announcer calling the action of the biggest game of the season.
“He became a bit of a Leafs fan too because he moved to Toronto in the mid-‘70s,” Tom Connors Jr. said. “He spent a lot of time playing and singing at the Horseshoe. He got to know the Leafs and they seemed to become fans so he would root (for them).
“Lets put it this way, we always root for the Canadian team, first. That’s just the way we’re built. So if the Habs were playing Toronto, we’d always be hoping the Habs might win, but as long as a Canadian team wins, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Part of Saturday’s ceremony included a live performance of the song by Canadian country music singer and songwriter, Tim Hicks.
Maple Leafs forward Tyler Ennis, who dressed in his 500th NHL game on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets, has been hearing the song around rinks for years.
“You hear it at every game, doesn’t matter where you are,” Ennis said. “If you go to an NHL game or go to a (junior game) it’s usually playing in the stands at some point. It’s fun. I think everyone that grows up playing hockey definitely probably knows all the words to that song.
“I don’t know the origin of it or anything, but I know that I associate it with hockey and it’s a good thing.”
Connors would frequently play, the Horseshoe Tavern – a downtown Toronto bar – and Tom Connors Jr. believes the Maple Leafs of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s could’ve inspired his father to write the song, which is in the style of a play-by-play announcer calling the action of the biggest game of the season.
“He became a bit of a Leafs fan too because he moved to Toronto in the mid-‘70s,” Tom Connors Jr. said. “He spent a lot of time playing and singing at the Horseshoe. He got to know the Leafs and they seemed to become fans so he would root (for them).
“Lets put it this way, we always root for the Canadian team, first. That’s just the way we’re built. So if the Habs were playing Toronto, we’d always be hoping the Habs might win, but as long as a Canadian team wins, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Part of Saturday’s ceremony included a live performance of the song by Canadian country music singer and songwriter, Tim Hicks.
Maple Leafs forward Tyler Ennis, who dressed in his 500th NHL game on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets, has been hearing the song around rinks for years.
“You hear it at every game, doesn’t matter where you are,” Ennis said. “If you go to an NHL game or go to a (junior game) it’s usually playing in the stands at some point. It’s fun. I think everyone that grows up playing hockey definitely probably knows all the words to that song.
“I don’t know the origin of it or anything, but I know that I associate it with hockey and it’s a good thing.”