The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Stompin' Tom Connors Wanted "The Hockey Song" To Be Theme For HNIC

**Posted by RadioActive** January 24, 2025 8:11 am

The late Stompin' Tom Connors, who was as Canadian as the Maple Leaf itself, tried to get the CBC to adopt his signature "The Hockey Song" as the theme for Hockey Night In Canada. But in the end, it never happened.

That's just one of the stories from a Toronto Sun article celebrating the iconic tune and how it still resonates with many. But it always bugged Connors that radio would never really play it.

"The Hockey Song suffered the same fate as many in Connors’ catalogue, unable to get sustained airtime on Canadian radio. It was a battle he pursued through the ‘70s and ‘80s to keep big-ticket commercial American records from dominating the Canadian market.

Though rarely heard upon release, The Hockey Song sustained a pulse through Connors’ travelling shows and even found a dedicated U.S. following via the weekly Dr. Demento novelty record radio show."

Singing the praises of Stompin' Tom Connors' The Hockey Song

**Posted by Shorty Wave** January 24, 2025 8:54 am

Back when Citytv would air Late Great Movies, “Across this Land with Stompin’ Tom Connors” was a mainstay, probably aired every month! It was shot in the early 70s at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. I watched it once through and it is actually very entertaining, and now somewhat historic. I believe you can now stream it.

**Posted by In Phase** January 24, 2025 9:50 am

A little known fact is that Stompin' Tom is buried in a local GTA gravesite in Erin, Ontario

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106341169/tom-connors

https://youtu.be/R8z8ni5nY6I

**Posted by ig** January 24, 2025 10:11 am

I'm sure that might have played well in Listowel but I'll stick with the Dolores Claman one. Even today, and yes I'm old, that sounds to me like the perfect hockey song. (And I hate sports.. and people on my lawn..)

**Posted by RadioActive** January 24, 2025 10:31 am

ig wrote:
I'm sure that might have played well in Listowel but I'll stick with the Dolores Claman one. Even today, and yes I'm old, that sounds to me like the perfect hockey song. (And I hate sports.. and people on my lawn..)

But what you really hate is people playing sports on your lawn...

**Posted by paterson1** January 24, 2025 11:01 am

Boom usually plays The Hockey Song on their Canada Day top 100 Canadian hits of all time. After his death in 2013 The Hockey Song had a bit of a resurgence and reached #29 on the Billboard Canadian Top 100. The song was originally written as a children's song.