Hometown Hockey Comes to Fredericton

This year, New Brunswick hockey’s been under the national spotlight. Earlier this year, Kraft Hockeyville left its mark in Renous. Now, Rogers Hometown Hockey made its next stop on their national tour in Fredericton.

Hometown Hockey’s goal is to bring communities, and families together in the name of hockey.

Music, booths, and activities were placed all over the Grant-Harvey Centre parking lot. One booth attracted fans far and wide. The long line was for the chance to meet former National Hockey League tough guy, Georges Laraque.

Laraque played in the NHL for over a decade, establishing himself as one of the toughest players in the NHL. After retiring in 2010, Laraque partnered with Hometown Hockey to promote fun, fair, and safe hockey.

“What I discovered is every time you go to a small town, people always so nice, and they appreciate always having a visit from a former NHL player,” said Laraque. “Every time you get the chance, you always feel a warm welcome.”

Along with Laraque, street performer Steve Goodtime awed fans with his fiery, rock and roll performance. His mix of torch juggling, and shredding Thunderstruck on his electric, and flowing mullet gave Hometown Hockey extra spice.

People tested their real-life hockey skills with a variety of challenges. These challenges tested fans accuracy, dangles, and their hardest slap shot. In the middle of the lot, a miniature rink was set up for a good old-fashioned game of road hockey

The upstart Fredericton Redwings showed community spirit by volunteering, and working the booths. Declan Maceachern ran the hardest slap shot booth. He and the team decided to help out the community, and promote the team.

“Our owner thought it would be a good idea to come out, just getting into the community,” said Maceachern. “it’s been great here today, getting to be with all the kids, and stuff. It’s a lot of fun.”

Even the Canadian Armed Forces contributed to Hometown Hockey. They set up a recruiting station, showing off their gear, and giving kids a tour of their military vehicles.

A Charlottetown kid, Maceachern is still in awe of Hometown Hockey coming to Fredericton.

“It’s always great to bring hockey to the cities, and smaller towns and stuff,” he said. “It’s awesome to grow the game so, yeah it’s awesome.”