maaxx.ca

Written by Julian McKenzie, Eric Duhacek and Chris Johnston

Canadian sportsman Bob Cole died Wednesday evening at the age of 90, his daughter told CBC. Cole died in his hometown of St. Louis. John's, Newfoundland, was surrounded by family, according to CBC.

“Like all hockey fans across the country, we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Cole,” CBC executive vice-president Barb Williams said in a statement. Athlete. “For over 50 years, his magical voice filled even preseason games with enthusiasm, not to mention the 28th Stanley Cup Final and the famous gold medal game in 2002. What a gift he was. What a loss for the entire hockey community. Bob will always have a special place in our hearts at CBC.

Cole's radio career began at VOCM, a local radio station in Saint John's before joining CBC Radio in 1969. In 1972, as a radio announcer, Cole called Paul Henderson's series-winning goal during the series of 1972 summits between Canada and the Soviet Confederation. The longtime broadcaster joined the “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcasts in 1973, providing the soundtrack for many regular season games, playoffs and Stanley Cup Final games until its final game on the 6th. April 2019, a regular season finale featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto. Maple leaves.

“I don’t know if there will ever be another Bob Cole,” said Greg Milne, his former broadcast partner. “He might be there, but he has the ability to fit into the game. Step back and let the players do their job. Sometimes it's a lost art.

Cole has also been the announcer for three Olympic Games, including Team Canada's senior men's victory at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, which ended a 50-year drought. It's also the site of one of Cole's most famous calls of all time: “Joooooee Sakic!” — on Joe Sakic's second goal of the game with just over a minute left in the gold medal game.

Cole was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 after receiving the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for Excellence in Broadcasting. Hewitt, the longtime announcer for Hockey Night in Canada, was Cole's inspiration for the broadcast. Cole found Hewitt and played him the audition tape, and Hewitt provided feedback in return.

Shortly after the announcement of his death, the hockey world was in mourning.

“He’s someone who impacts the game in a lot of ways,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He is an icon in our sport and the voice of hockey not only in Toronto, but in our country. A sad day, that's for sure. Our thoughts are with everyone.

John Shannon, longtime producer of “Hockey Night In Canada,” first met Cole in 1977, when he was running $10 a day on the show and when Cole was one of four voice actors on “Hockey Night In Canada.” Hockey Night In Canada. The others are Jim Robson in Vancouver, Danny Gallivan in Montreal and Bill Hewitt in Toronto.

A group of us had a great time taking photos with the hockey icon. It would be great to host the Stanley Cup there too. Original game and country soundtrack. love and respect. Good luck Bob. pic.twitter.com/UBLoZR5udt

– Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) April 25, 2024

Cole eventually became a beloved national voice on “Hockey Night in Canada,” but when he was first hired, there was initial opposition from fans, accustomed to the voices of Hewitt and Gallivan . Overall, listeners enjoy hearing a familiar, reassuring voice, which ends up being Cole's voice. But at first, it took some time for the audience to adjust.

“It was a natural progression for a lot of us internally at Hockey Night that we needed what I would describe as a network voice rather than a Toronto Maple Leafs voice or a Montreal voice,” he said. Shannon said. Canada. So Bob became this transition guy. There was a slight slowdown in Toronto, you are right. There was also a slight decline in Montreal.

“The way we approach hockey night, the bigger the game, the more important it is that someone shows up in Montreal and is not seen as a broadcaster in Montreal. Likewise, in Toronto, (they are not) considered broadcasters in Toronto,” he said. Yet they are considered “hockey nights” by Canadian broadcasters.

Since then, Cole has been shouting “Hockey Night in Canada,” including his signature “Oh baby!” and “Everything Happens!” It has become a staple of Canadian hockey tradition. His baritone voice, as Shannon explains, is also part of his legend.

“Honestly, growing up, I think every memory I have of hockey will resonate in his voice,” Keefe said. “I think he’s very easy to recognize. One clip, and you know it's Bob Cole. I just know I have a lot of friends and a lot of people who love the game that Bob calls them and what he calls them and the passion that he has. With a career like that, I don't think there's any particular moment where we would all say he was there for them all.

“The other thing about him is no one is impatient for this game anymore,” Shannon said. “The puck was in the neutral zone and Bob was saying, ‘There they are! or “Be careful!” -And you should be careful because he is right nine times out of ten. Something is going to happen. This is what sets him apart from most other men: his genuine sense of anticipation.

“He considered himself an artist. It's theatrical. He knows how to use his voice. I teach players how to play play by play – and Bob Cole is a great example of that, because first half goals aren't as important as goals. in the second or third round. And he can convey that with his tone and his tone, you know when he says: Oh, that's an important goal.

Myleene's favorite memory is watching Cole's matches where all you could hear was his voice, running the show. He remembers being “lectured” by Cole before games they played together, usually during the taxi ride to the arena with Cole sitting in the front seat.

“Don’t get in the way of the game tonight. Let it go,” Millen said. “And that's his way of saying, 'I'm playing this game.' And come when I tell you.

Cole's affections included the New York Yankees, Frank Sinatra and his four children – Robbie, Megan, Hilary and Christine, Shannon said.

“He talks about it like he talks about the game,” Shannon said. “He never left St. John. He has always lived in Newfoundland. But he still manages to maintain a balance between family and work. He's a great guy. For me, he was the soundtrack of hockey for many years. generation.”

“He has a passion for this game. He wants to do things well. It's demanding. It was difficult, but no one could understand that moment better. Dan Kelly and Bob Cole. Both. If he said: “And the audience went crazy!” “You know we won't. We heard another word for 15 seconds because Bob said, “OK, guys, we're going to listen and Bob did the best he could.”

(Photo: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)