Despite frigid temperatures, downtown Lacombe was a hotbed for activity last weekend with celebrity appearances, live entertainment for Rogers Hometown Hockey.

The festival was all about celebrating local hockey.

Retired NHL forward Darcy Tucker was among those signing autographs, who said he still keeps in touch with friends from his minor hockey days.

“I don’t necessarily remember the wins and losses. I remember the practices and the car rides to the games and going for a burger or ice cream after with my buddies,” Tucker said after speaking on a panel on Saturday.

“That’s the special things that builds teammates and friendships that are going to last you a lifetime.”

Lacombe was the 16th community on the tour schedule, not far from where co-host Ron MacLean grew up in Red Deer.

MacLean said some of his memories included spending time at a campground south of Blackfalds, the Lacombe Lions baseball tournament, playing high school sports against Lacombe, and enjoying food at the Central Alberta Independent Creameries and the A-1 Chinese restaurant.

He’s found that Canada’s pastime connects people from all over the country. One day, he’s in Surrey, B.C., sharing the story of the Punjabi Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Next, he’s in the same area code as Arshdeep Bains, a Red Deer Rebels forward from Surrey, who could become the fourth NHL player of south Asian descent.

“The rink strips you of small-town or big city. It’s a wonderful thing about hockey and what I do know is everywhere we go, there’s six degrees of separation,” MacLean said. “Everywhere you go, you find these connections.”