From left, Ron MacLean, Stephen Brunt and Tara Slone tape a broadcast for Rogers Hometown Hockey in front of a large Corner Brook audience.
While doing an interview with The Western Star Saturday, MacLean was seated back on to the large window of his Hometown Hockey mobile studio.
Nonetheless, a crowd soon gathered in front of the trailer to wave at the broadcasting legend.
MacLean joked about how many times hockey fans have seen his “bald head” over the years to recognize it.
“All the photos we put on our website kind of ticks me off a little, they’re always of my big bald head,” MacLean said with a smile.
MacLean was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, attraction when Rogers Hometown Hockey rolled into Corner Brook over the weekend.
The host, who called island hockey players some of the toughest he’s seen over the years, returned the respect Newfoundlanders showed Maclean over his visit.
“We Albertans think we’re tough, but I would venture to say the toughest hockey players are from here,” said MacLean.
MacLean visited Corner Brook in 2006 to emcee a fundraising dinner for the Canadian Paraplegic association. During his first visit, however, he never got to see much of the city.
“The only trick is, I came in at nightfall and I was out at midnight, so I didn’t get to see Corner Brook during the day,” he said.
It’s no secret that many hockey fans across Canada miss seeing Ron MacLean host Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays, even though he still appears alongside Don Cherry for Coach’s Corner.
When asked if he missed his old gig, MacLean answered without hesitation.
“No, I don’t. Honestly, I was 27 years (on the job), and ‘Grapes’ and I still have our shtick. So we have our friendship and our show, and I love that.”
MacLean now feels like an “ambassador” for hockey as he criss-crosses the nation. And, pointing to the excitement shown in Corner Brook, he believes Hometown Hockey has had a great impact for the host communities.
“It looks like Canada Day on Parliament Hill every week, but it’s in a place like Corner Brook or Fort McMurray, and it’s quite amazing.”
