Hockey brings people together, says Tara Slone
Rogers Hometown Hockey host talks ahead of this weekend’s event in Welland
Travelling across Canada and stopping in 25 cities can be tiring, says Tara Slone, who cohosts Rogers Hometown Hockey with Ron MacLean.
But as she prepared to come to Welland this weekend, Slone said the two are constantly renewed by the kindness and generosity found in the communities they visit.
“Sometimes when we get fatigued in our roles, there’s always that story that reveals itself or person that lifts our spirits up. It’s kind of amazing,” she said.
The show is set for Sunday night, part of the national broadcast of the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks.
In her sixth season with Rogers Hometown Hockey, the former lead singer for Joydrop said there are common themes to be found across Canada — community, humanity, kindness.
“It’s what makes the show so lovely, even in the face of a real challenge or tragedy,” she said.
Slone pointed to the example of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan in 2018, where the community and the entire country rallied around the junior hockey team.
“Hockey serves so many purposes. It’s a game of skill and learning for many, and hockey rinks are a place where people gather and grow up together. It’s their community.”
What sometimes surprises Slone when she visits the various communities — she’s been to at least 110 now, and the show itself has been to 128 through repeat visits — is the level of enthusiasm people have.
“We show up to a town with a population of 5,000, and 6,000 people show up.”
When she and MacLean first teamed up to do the show in 2014, Slone could only do half during the first season. At the time, she was also hosting Breakfast Television in Calgary.
She moved into broadcasting in 2007 after her stint in Joydrop and some acting roles on Canadian and American TV shows, and had a taste for a career in sports, hockey specifically.
“When the NHL announced its deal with Rogers and the creation of a new show, I sent an impassioned letter to the president of Sportsnet at the time. I knew I really wanted to be part of it.”
Slone said the show has grown over the years, especially after she was able to do it fulltime.
“The longer the show is on the air, the more people entrust us with their stories,” she said, adding communities are always very welcoming.
The show has allowed her to visit places across Canada she has never been to, even during her time touring as a musician.
“I’ve never been to Welland,” she said.
Before Slone and MacLean arrive — she’ll be in town Friday and he’ll get here Sunday — they have a crew of researchers and producers gathering information on the city as well as former and current NHL players from there.
She said the two hosts do a lot of prep work as well, once the schedule for the towns they’ll visit is set each season.
“We have a primary list of people and things … and the longer the show is on the air, the more people tend to reach out to us. We’ll get notes on Twitter or by email. So much information is sent our way.”
Slone said details of the show and what content will be included can be finalized at the last minute.
There’s also a large crew that comes in and sets up the show and broadcast area. That crew was behind Welland Civic Square Thursday afternoon.
“Ron and I have the luxury of leaving the site once the show is over. We have an incredible crew that sets up and tears down the festival,” she said.
Slone grew up watching the Montreal Canadiens, taking in the game with her father each week.
As for the game itself, Slone has never played hockey. “I’m pretty pathetic on skates,” she said with a laugh.