Stompin' Tom Connors' iconic Canadian anthem "The Hockey Song" will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 27, in Toronto, Ont. Connors' son, Tom Connors Jr., and other members of his family will be present to receive a plaque honouring the song's induction at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 1973 song celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and has become a staple in the arenas of numerous teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who play "The Hockey Song" at every home game. Over the years, Connors was invited to play the anthem, which models its three verses after a hockey game's three periods, at many NHL games.
Connors died in 2013 from kidney failure. Just days after his death, Hockey Night in Canada aired a special tribute to Connors. "The Hockey Song" also reached no. 29 on Billboard's Canadian Hot 100 chart a few weeks later.
"There's not a more fitting stage to celebrate Stompin' Tom's 'The Hockey Song' than at an NHL game," Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame executive director Vanessa Thomas said, in a press release. "We are very excited to see the crowd's passion for the song and to honour this classic into the Songwriters Hall of Fame."
In the same press release, Connors Jr. thanked the Songwriters Hall of Fame for "inducting 'The Hockey Song' to join so many other great Canadian songs that have helped shape our identity."
"Tom wrote this song in 1971 and it's wonderful to see how fans to this day continue to call it their 'Hockey Anthem' at all levels and ages of hockey players around the world," he continued. "We hope this song will inspire others to pen memorable, identifiably Canadian songs in the future for all to enjoy."
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