Roger Hometown Heroes stopping in Chatham-Kent
With a storied career that has taken him across the globe, Ron MacLean has fond memories of Chatham-Kent. Except he wasn’t in front of a camera while in town, but mostly policing the rink.
The famed Canadian sports broadcaster will be visiting this weekend as part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey festivities. “Back in the day, there was a league called the Colonial League,” MacLean told Postmedia on Friday. “The Chatham Wheels were there and I used to come down and referee. I definitely caught the spirit right there and then.” The festival, which takes place on Wellington Street in Chatham, will feature appearances by NHL alumni Tomas Kaberle and Dave Gagner.
The weekend will also honour the memory of Dresden hometown hero Ken Houston, the former Atlanta and Calgary Flame, who died earlier this year. MacLean said he unfortunately never had a chance to meet Houston personally, since MacLean started in broadcasting when Houston retired. However, he’s heard many stories about him, noting his class and devotion to the community. “Everywhere I went after Ken died, people would mention ‘I hope, Ron, that you and Don Cherry can mention him,’” he said. “He was so loved.”
On Saturday at noon, the Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Centre will officially become the Ken Houston Memorial Agricultural Centre.
MacLean admitted the timing couldn’t be any better.
“The thing about Ken is he was sort of a man about town. Whether he was at the track or at the rink. Just a great citizen,” he said. “It’s really lovely that this is coinciding with the Rogers Hometown tour stop.”
During his travels to ChathamKent in the past, MacLean said he was “blown away” by the area’s natural amenities and its tightknit communities.
“It’s just such a lovely part of the world,” he said. “A fisherman’s paradise. And obviously a great hockey town.”
MacLean said he’s been enjoying the Hockey Hometown tour so far, which kicked off in Kitchener during Oktoberfest.
He added he’s always learning something new every time he visits a town.
“As an example, I didn’t know the Uncle Tom’s Cabin story, I didn’t know ‘Scuttlebutt Lodge,’” he said. He also noted the importance of the native community the area’s history.
“The First Nations saw it as paradise — and it is.”
The festival hours are from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The Parade of Champions and NHL pre-game show will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday. It will finish with an outdoor viewing party of the live Sportsnet broadcast of the Tampa Bay Lightning at Winnipeg Jets game, hosted by MacLean and Tara Slone on Sunday.
Special guests will include Fergie Jenkins, along with a musical performance by country music artist and Windsor native Kelsi Mayne.