Larmer and Atom Trappers

To kick off the Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend in North Bay, the Minor Atom Trappers got a visit from a special guest.

Scotiabank arranged a practice with the team and former NHLer Steve Larmer.

Larmer won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994 and was the Rookie of the Year in 1983.

He says he was happy to be at the practice.

Larmer says the one thing he tries to pass along is that the game needs to be fun when you play it no matter what age.  Larmer also signed autographs and shared stories after the practice.

 

Hometown hockey logoMeantime, the North Bay Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour stop is almost here. The two day festival outside Discovery North Bay starts Saturday.

Tara Slone co-hosts with Anchor Ron Maclean and says it is two events in one.

First, she says they are a travelling festival and road show as they go to a different community every week during the NHL season. She says there are many family friendly activities all centered around the game.

The festival will be open at noon tomorrow (Saturday) and there will be activities right through till  6pm.

As for Sunday the grounds open at 2 and will stay open until the live broadcast on Sportsnet.

Maclean will host the pre-game show at 8:30 on Sunday night that will focus on North Bay and then at 9pm,  Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers play the Vancouver Canucks.

Slone says there are meet and greets with NHL alumni including former North Bay Centennial and Sportsnet broadcaster Nick Kypreos, a Dodge Family face off, a Sportsnet “Be a Broadcaster” where you call NHL highlights with Sportsnet’s Evanka Osmak, a kids Zone and a Ball Hockey Rink.

There’s live music featuring The Neesh and Sea Perry on Saturday along with Carl Dixon and Cory Marquardt on Sunday.

There’s a Scotiabank Hot Stove session with Nick Kypreos and Steve Larmer on Sunday. Kypreos will also be involved in a autograph session on Sunday.

Other events include the Scotiabank Community Locker Room.

Slone says there are unique things around the game in every community they go to but some themes that hold true everywhere they go.