(AUDIO) Excitement building for the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour stop in North Bay

If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve likely already circled October 17th and 18th on your calendar.

Those are the dates for the North Bay stop of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour.

Each stop on the tour includes local entertainment, hometown heroes and NHL alumni.

Former NHLer Darren Turcotte grew up in North Bay and played his junior career here before moving on to the pros.

He has since returned and launched a coaching career.

Turcotte says there is quite a hockey history here.

The two day event will include interactive displays like “Be a Broadcaster”, some ball hockey and other hockey activities.

The free events will all take place in front of the Discovery North Bay Museum.

In addition, Ron Maclean will host a show live on Sportsnet at 8:30 pm on October 18th before the NHL game between Vancouver and Edmonton.

Melinda Fry is the city’s manager of sports and events.

She says the local Tour stop has been in the works for a while now.

The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will stop in 24 Canadian cities this year, starting October 11th in Kitchener.

North Bay is the tour’s second stop.