Bobby Kromm Day

Trail has declared July 28th, 2010 as Bobby Kromm Day. There will be a gathering of friends, family and fans at the Cominco Arena at 2pm this afternoon. This is a chance to celebrate Kromm's life and share stories about the local hockey legend and former NHL Coach of the Year.

I talked on Mountain FM's Overtime last night with Norm Lenardon about what to expect today. I'll also re-post the tribute we did for Kromm on Overtime last month.

Norm Lenardon on Bobby Kromm Day

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Overtime's Tribute to Bobby Kromm

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Kromm Tribute Audio

Overtime's Tribute to Bobby Kromm (Norm Lenardon, Seth Martin and Cal Hockley)

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Thanks for those who have passed on kind words after listening to the tribute show on Friday. It's always a pleasure to talk to class acts like Norm, Seth and Cal. Especially when they get to talk about someone who meant so much to the hockey community here. Check out Guy Bertrand's article on Kromm here.

(A note on the Smoke Eaters trade as mentioned on my Twitter and the Smokies Facebook, Trail flipped newsly acquired F Steve Dobbin to Lloydminster for their leading scorer F Brett Slobodzian. More on that deal tonight on Overtime and later on the blog.)

Bobby Kromm Dies

Legendary Trail Smoke Eaters Player/Coach Bobby Kromm passed away on Wednesday -- the day after his 82nd birthday.

Kromm took the Smokies to the 1961 World Championship, 1963 Allan Cup and an Allan Cup final in 1960. He also took the Nelson Maple Leafs to the Allan Cup final in 1965.

As a player he was one of the all-time Western International Hockey League scorers with 783 points. Kromm was known more as a set-up man as he piled up 524 assists over his long career. He was also known as a very tough customer as both a player and a coach.

Anyone I've talked to about Bobby has told me he would accept nothing less but the best from his players. He was a hard man to play for, but he got results.

In some ways the more I read about Kromm's commitment to conditioning it seems like he was ahead of his time. That has become such a big part of the game these days. Coaches like Kromm proved how making sure you team was in top shape could give you an edge. Now proper fitness is a key aspect of how all the best coaches approach the game.

Kromm went from his time in senior hockey to the professional ranks. He won three Central Hockey League championships with the Dallas Black Hawks, an Avco Cup with the World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets and the 1977 NHL Coach of the Year Award as the bench boss of the Detroit Red Wings.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Kromm at the Smoke Eaters Alumni Banquet last summer. Even while going thruogh a long battle with colon cancer Kromm made time to return to his adopted home for a couple of good causes. As we approach the 50th anniversary of that 1961 World Championship team I'm honoured that I got to introduce and shake hands with one of the men most responsible for that moment of hockey history.

I'm sure the whole community here thanks Bobby for his contributions to Trail hockey and will remember him fondly.

We'll have a special edition of Mountain FM's Overtime tonight in tribute of Bobby Kromm. I already know Seth Martin will join us on the show and I hope to line some more guests up throughout the afternoon. Join us from 6pm to 10pm at 104.1FM in Trail and at http://www.mountainfm.net/