(and a smooch from Harold Ballard’s missus)
“Hello out there, we’re on the air, it’s hockey night tonight…”
Despite never charting, The Hockey Song is among Stompin’ Tom Connors’ most recognizable songs. It was released on the 1973 album Stompin’ Tom and the Hockey Song.
Tom had a difficult childhood, born essentially fatherless into a tough Saint John neighbourhood. He drifted with his mother until they lost each other, and he landed into the care of Children’s Aid before being sent to a foster home in far-off Skinner’s Pond, PEI.
He hated it there. Eventually he’d escape to thumb across Canada with a cheap guitar.
He recounts in his autobiography how years later someone in a Peterborough pub called him “Stompin’ Tom.” He’d stomp through boards then sign them for charity. He also described his photographic memory and ability to memorize hundreds of songs.
I’ve done a few projects at the studio where Tom worked, Escarpment Sound near Fergus, Ontario. The studio has Stompin’ Tom memorabilia everywhere.
His final little-known recordings were just husky voice and guitar. A heavy drinker, he was the only one allowed to smoke in the studio. I asked the engineer if Tom could still stomp toward the end of his life.
“Barely,” the engineer said. “He had to lean on something.”
Tom reconciled his memories of Skinner’s Pond and lived there for years with his wife from Magdalene Island. Despite appearing gruff, he was a genius, a jokester, and a brilliant songwriter about everyday Canadian folk—his favourite subject. Staunchly proud, he railed against American media influence.
Interestingly, I’ve never seen a Stompin’ Tom record in a thrift shop.
Distrustful of doctors, Tom died of kidney failure in 2013 at the age of 77. His grave is near Erin, Ontario. I visit periodically to see the Molson Canadian bottles and beer caps and other patriotic offerings. I paid tribute with a red Prince Edward Island rock.
Three verses describe three periods in The Hockey Song. As the song gained popularity, it was re-recorded by our mutual engineer pal as Tom felt the original was “too thin.” In the original, he sings, “The Canadians win!” which was later revised to “The home team wins!”.
No need to rub it in, Tom. I was ONE YEAR OLD when I saw the Leafs win their last cup. Mock me as you may, whatever team you cheer for, hockey is like being hooked on soap operas with its drama and revolving cast, hopes and disappointments (too many disappointments!).
Drowned sorrows are part of the fun, indeed, “…the best game you can name is the good ol’ hockey game.”
Former owner of the Leafs Harold Ballard’s wife Yolanda once kissed me, perhaps my greatest claim to fame. After a concert, a woman insisted on planting one—then a fella asked, “Do you know who that was?” (Sorry, Harold…)
Stompin’ Tom Connors performed The Hockey Song at the closing of Maple Leaf Gardens in 1999 (Leafs lost).
“Now the final flick of a hockey stick and-a one gigantic scream,
‘The puck is in! The home team wins!’ at the good ol’ hockey game.”
