Downtown Cranbrook was hockey heaven last weekend as Rogers Hometown Hockey rolled into town in force, bringing a carnival of puck to one of Canada’s historic hockey hotbeds. (See photo gallery below.)

It was a celebration of the game that brings so much national pride to Canada, as well as a celebration of Cranbrook and the East Kootenay, with plenty of reminders to the national audience that the southeast corner of British Columbia has deep ties to the game.

Hockey and the Kootenays are synonymous dating back to the start of the fastest and toughest game in the world, from the arrival of the Patrick brothers (Frank and Lester) in Nelson over 100 years ago Since then the Kootenays — east, central and west — have been a hockey factory.

The Trail Smoke Eaters and Kimberley Dynamiters are names of teams familiar to all Canadian hockey lovers.

Ask a knowledgeable Czech or a Slovak about Mike Bucka, born in Trail, and they will say “the father of hockey” in their lands.

A Boston Bruins archivist would go on at length about the greatness of goaltender Tiny Thompson.

Detroit Red Wings legend and architect of Canada’s 2010 Olympic gold medal winning team, Steve Yzerman, was born in Cranbrook.

Columbus Blue Jackets president and former NHL goaltending great John Davidson (New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues) hails from Invermere.

The Cranbrook area alone has produced such NHL/pro hockey notables as Ray Allison, Greg Andrusak, Jon Klemm, Brad Lukowich, Jason Marshall, Don Murdoch, Bob Murdoch, Tom Renney, Corey Spring, Jason Wiemer (Kimberley) and front and centre this past weekend, the city’s two favourite hockey brothers – Rob and Scott Niedermayer.

Scott Niedermayer is one of the most successful hockey players in history, in terms of the range of championships won. Rob also had a successful career, culminating with a Stanley Cup victory, playing with Scott on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Niedermayer brothers were joined signing autographs, speaking to the public and posing for photographs with fans by Stanley Cup champion (Calgary Flames) and NHL legend Theo Fleury, former Vancouver goaltending hero Kirk McLean and city-raised coaching whiz and Hockey Canada big-wig Tom Renney, who launched his career with early success as coach of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Columbia Valley Rockies.

Sportsnet hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone were given a close look at Cranbrook and area and the results were broadcast nationally during Sunday evening’s Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes broadcast. (Leafs won five zip.)

City of Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt said the city was fortunate to have Hometown Hockey come to town, noting the large economic spin-offs. He also thanked volunteers, city staff and Rogers/Sportsnet for the great coverage and exposure for the city and region and for the generosity of the tour sponsors.

Pratt addressed some of the many hundreds of people packed onto Baker Street Sunday afternoon, along with Ktunaxa Nation Chair Kathryn Teneese, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski.

Host Tara Slone presented the city with a glass-panelled hockey jacket similar to the ones she and MacLean have worn during the national Hometown Hockey tour.

Please click on a photo to enlarge and to begin self-directed slide show…

Photos by Ian Cobb, Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW and Tammy Oates

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