Hometown Hockey wins in Strathmore

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

Thousands of people attended the festivities of Rogers Hometown Hockey in Strathmore Dec. 21-22.
The weekend began with the Downtown Strathmore Hometown Hockey Kickoff Party followed by a full lineup of fun and action throughout the two days at the Hometown Hockey Festival.
The festivities ended with a viewing of the Calgary Flames versus Dallas Stars NHL game, hosted live on location by Sportsnet broadcasters Ron MacLean and Tara Slone.
“The combination of hockey and storytelling really appealed to me … It’s all about people,” said Slone. “When it comes down to it and what separates us from other hockey broadcasts is we’re telling stories. We’re telling stories of the people in the game, behind the game, volunteers and parents, and what it means to communities across Canada.”
Slone spent three full days in the community listening to stories and doing meet and greets before sharing Strathmore’s hockey story on national television.
Some feature events of the weekend included the downtown kickoff party with a hockey skills demonstration, s’mores competition, free pancake breakfast and free hamburger lunch. A Paint the Town Red competition, hosted by the Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce, was won by Strathmore Pawn Collectables.
Rogers Hometown Hockey Festival at the Strathmore Family Centre included live music, autograph signing sessions, games, shows, live book readings, trivia, an intermission chat, a parade of champions featuring local hockey teams, a pre-game show hosted by MacLean and Slone and a live showing of the NHL game on Dec. 22.
The Town of Strathmore also hosted a charity hockey game on Dec. 21 featuring local emergency services playing against local minor hockey and ringette teams to raise cash and food donations for JumpStart and the Wheatland County Food Bank.
According to Ty Tomasta, communications ambassador with the Town of Strathmore, $50,000 was contributed from the town from the Financial Stabilization Fund to fund the logistical side of the event including both day and overnight security, RCMP escorts and equipment rentals. The estimated economic development implications for local businesses and the town is upwards of $1 million.
Tomasta also accounts for a positive community impact, including exposure to Strathmore throughout the Hometown Hockey broadcast to a nationwide audience, community promotion through mainstream media, including Rogers and Sportsnet, fundraising opportunities for local hockey teams and Strathmore Minor Hockey, paid opportunities for locals, and the support raised from the charity hockey game which included over $1,000 sold in 50/50 tickets plus food donations.
The Calgary Flames beat the Dallas Stars 5-1, with attendees at the live outdoor viewing party cheering as both the Flames and the Town of Strathmore won.
“I think that hockey in this country is something that brings us together and hockey rinks are not just a place to watch a game but they are a place that communities tend to gather,” said Slone.
“Hometown pride is definitely a universal. I think that’s why we end up having so many great guests. It doesn’t’ matter if you’re a super star, a Zamboni driver or a school teacher, you are proud of where you’ve come from, so that’s really fun when you get to hear people that you look up to talking about that (on this show). And people just love to come out and support their community.”