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Former NHL player Tom Laidlaw is also a part of the cast, and the 61-year-old has had an amazing career. He's also the first Canadian-born person to be cast on the show.
Which hockey teams did Tom Laidlaw play for?
Laidlaw played for the New York Rangers from 1980-1986 and the Los Angeles Kings until 1990. He then played for the International Hockey League's Phoenix Roadrunners for one season before retiring from hockey. He was later ranked #87 on the all-time list of the 100 greatest New York Rangers.
Why did Tom decide to join Survivor?
Laidlaw's journey to TV actually started on another CBS show. The former hockey player was asked to compete on The Amazing Race , but as the New England Sports Network reports, none of Laidlaw's former teammates were in good enough shape to compete on the grueling show.
"It was kind of funny going through the process because it was like 'Oh, this guys a laugh but he cant do it because he just got his hip replaced,'" Laidlaw explained.
Laidlaw told ESPN that the idea to audition for Survivor was all due to his business partner Bryan Girsch; he quickly put together an audition tape, and he flew out to LA to complete the auditioning process. And while Laidlaw played 705 games during his hockey career, he still feels like the independent nature of Survivor is tougher than the NHL.
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Tom Laidlaw and Elaine Stott during the first episode of Survivor: Island of the Idols.
"On Survivorespecially early onyou need to play somewhat of a team game while trying to watch your back," he told ESPN. "You need to be careful you don't offend people and put a target on your back. In that regard, Survivor might be tougher."
However, Laidlaw says that the physical aspect of Survivor was no match for hockey: "The pounding you give out and receive in the NHL is demanding, while on Survivor it's the lack of food that reduces your energy level. So physically, the NHL is tougher."