A long-time Winnipeg rock journalist received a special thank you from Canadian legends the Tragically Hip during their stop in the city on Friday night.

During the show at the MTS Centre, lead singer Gord Downie took a moment to point out how John Kendle helped save the band's first venture outside of Ontario.

"John Kendle, he got us our first gig. We came here, we got fired," Downie told the packed crowd.

"We were looking at six nights of gigs gone."

A long-time Winnipeg rock journalist received a special thank you from Canadian legends the Tragically Hip during their stop in the city on Friday night. 0:56 Downie said that the local writer wrote a letter to the paper the next day saying he liked the gig.

"So all these people in Winnipeg rallied together and hired us for the next six nights," Downie said.

It was a major moment for the band, Downie added.

"It kept us going or we were heading back to Kingston and, you know, becoming the accountants that we always dreamed to be. So thank you very much sir," he said as the crowd cheered.

On Twitter Kendle responded saying "Thanks. Wow."