Stomp on: Canada remembers Stompin’ Tom Connors

Stomp on.

Those two words are found among the thousands that have already been written about the death of Stompin' Tom Connors, the Canadian musical icon who passed away Wednesday night.

Stomp on. Canadian icon. Your legacy. Thank you.

Connors, who passed away of natural causes at the age of 77, was born Thomas Charles Connors in Saint John, New Brunswick on February 9th, 1936. Over a decades-long musical career, he captured the hearts of everyone from Canadian politicians to Canadian construction workers and loggers. And athletes, especially hockey players.

His hits included "The Hockey Song," "Sudbury Saturday Night," "Bud The Spud," "Tillsonburg" and "Moon-Man Newfie." He was given every honour Canada had to offer, and he turned some of them away.

He was folk singing superhero who, for years, stood as the proud icon of Canadian music. No, not music. Of Canada as a whole. Proudly nationalistic, fiercely loyal and beloved from coast to coast to coast.

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It is little wonder that so many heavyweights expressed their deep sadness in his passing.

Commander Chris Hadfield shared his thoughts on Connors while in orbit above Earth.

Canadian comedian Norm Macdonald overloaded Twitter Wednesday night with an extensive personal tribute to Connors which, frankly, is best read in its entirety.

CBC Radio's Jian Ghomeshi, the host of Q and formerly a member of the Moxy Fruvous:

One of Connors' key distinctions was his love of the Canadian music scene. He rarely played on U.S. television, most famously appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien when he filmed a week of episodes in Canada. He once removed his name from Juno contention to, in part, make room for aspiring acts.

Connors is unquestionably best know for his hit tune, "The Hockey Song," which still plays in hockey arenas across the country and has been covered by scores of Canadian bands. It is not surprising that Canadian hockey icons share their own messages of remorse.

But it wasn't just athletes, musicians and politicians who loved Tom. Canadians loved Tom, they loved that when he stomped, he stomped for Canada. They loved that his songs sang to them, to Sudbury on a Saturday night, to all-Canadian girls who, in wintertime, curl. They loved him enough to set rivalries aside and sing his song.

They loved him because he loved Canada. Stomp on, Tom.