People skate and play hockey on the Avon River in Stratford, Ont., as part of Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada on Saturday. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

The theme for this year's Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada — the 10th annual celebration of our national pastime — is teamwork. On Saturday's Hotstove segment of Hockey Night in Canada, the panel said the Junior B team in Stratford, Ont., the Cullitons, is a good example of the importance of the group over the individual.

In Stratford's historic William Allman Arena — built in 1924 — there are no jerseys hanging from the rafters. That's despite big-name NHLers having passed through their city.

Ed Olcyck, Nelson Emerson, Chris Pronger and Tim Taylor all honed their skills as a Culliton before making it as a professional. But none of their names or numbers have been honoured by their former junior team.

John Kastner, managing editor of the Stratford Beacon-Herald newspaper, told the Hotstove that he has written columns recommending that the team honour some of its greats.

"[The team's] directors have made it a mandate," he said. "They've never retired anybody's number. They've always said that the name on the back wasn't as important as the name on the front."

Taylor, a co-chair of Hockey Day, believes the Cullitons' mentality is reflected throughout the community in Stratford.

A two-time Stanley Cup winner — with Detroit and Tampa Bay — he had the opportunity to have two victory celebrations in his hometown.

"It was unbelievable, the co-operation we had from the city of Stratford [when I brought the Cup home]," Taylor said. "We were able to [reach] every child in the city."

Organizers have declared Hockey Day to be a huge success and this year's turnout surpassed the attendance from previous years. Estimates suggest that there were thousands of people skating on the Avon River and taking in the winter activities on Saturday.

"Hockey day shows the hold the game has on this country," retired HNIC broadcaster Dick Irvin said.

Although Stratford is widely regarded as a great theatre town, HNIC host Ron MacLean said the residents proved that they are much more versatile.

"It's a hockey city as much as it's known for the Shakespearean efforts."