Bob Cole (sportscaster)

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Bob Cole
CM
Cole in 2012
Born
Robert Cecil Cole

(1933-06-24)June 24, 1933
St. John's, Newfoundland
DiedApril 24, 2024(2024-04-24) (aged 90)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
OccupationHockey announcer for Hockey Night in Canada
Years active1969–2019

Robert Cecil Cole CM (June 24, 1933 – April 24, 2024) was a Canadian sports television announcer who worked for CBC and Sportsnet and competitive curler.[1] He was known primarily for his work on Hockey Night in Canada.

Early life[edit]

A knee injury suffered from playing soccer put Cole in the hospital for approximately six months as a youth. It was during this time that he would listen to Foster Hewitt calling games on the radio and developed an interest in becoming a sports announcer.[2] In 1956, Cole made an impromptu visit to Hewitt's office to present him with an audition tape. To Cole's surprise, Hewitt welcomed him in, listened to his tape, and talked with him for two hours.[2]

Ice hockey[edit]

Hockey Night in Canada[edit]

Cole began broadcasting hockey on VOCM radio in St. John's, Newfoundland, then CBC Radio in 1969 and moved to television in 1973 when Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) expanded its coverage. Cole was the lead play-by-play announcer for HNIC on CBC, usually working Toronto Maple Leafs games, from 1980 to 2008. Aside from the Leafs broadcasts, he was also a staple for HNIC during the annual Stanley Cup playoffs. He broadcast at least one game in every Stanley Cup Finals from 1980 until 2008, after which he was replaced by Jim Hughson.[3][4] His voice was also heard by a United States television audience whenever that country's carrier at the time – Hughes, USA, SportsChannel America or NBCSN – simulcast an HNIC game that he was calling.[citation needed]

In November 2013, Rogers Communications reached a 12-year deal to become the exclusive national television and digital rightsholder for the NHL in Canada, beginning with the 2014–15 season. Although now at the age of 82, Cole told the Toronto Sun that he wanted Rogers to call and tell him if he would be a part of their hockey coverage: "I still feel the same as when I was 50. I still love what I'm doing. I just want to do games."[5] Cole later stated, "I'd like to keep going. I feel good. I love the game. I still get passionate. I still get butterflies."[6] In June 2014, Rogers confirmed that Cole would be part of their play-by-play team."[7]

Sportsnet did not give any on-air assignments to Cole during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[8] On September 27, 2018, Sportsnet announced that he would be calling his 50th and last season with Hockey Night in Canada and a limited schedule of games in the upcoming season.[9]

On February 6, 2019, he received a video tribute and a standing ovation, during the Toronto Maple Leafs - Ottawa Senators game, on the occasion of calling his last game in Toronto, with his final play-by-play broadcast being the Toronto Maple Leafs-Montreal Canadiens game on April 6 at Bell Centre.[10][11][12][13] That night, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 6-5 in a shootout. This game also happened to hold historical significance, as Canadiens forward Ryan Poehling scored a hat trick and a shootout goal in what was his first NHL game.[14] Cole's broadcasting career spanned 50 years.[15][16][17]

Olympics[edit]

Cole's work during CBC's broadcasts of the Olympic games have also become memorable among legions of Canadians. His call on the final shot of the shootout in the semi-final game of the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano between Canada and the Czech Republic represented Canada's then-ongoing failure at the games and haunted fans for the next four years. With Canada scoreless in the shootout and Brendan Shanahan representing their last chance, Cole said in a panicked voice as Shanahan skated in towards Czech goalie Dominik Hasek, "He's gotta score, that's all!" But Shanahan was stopped by Hasek, prompting Cole to dejectedly say "No, he can't do it."[citation needed]

At the gold medal game of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City between Canada and the United States, Cole's animated call of Joe Sakic's second goal of the game is also one of his more memorable moments. Also, when Jarome Iginla scored Canada's fourth goal of the game, with four minutes remaining in the third period, Cole was so excited when the goal was scored he yelled out "GORE!" (a hybrid of "goal" and "score"), and then proceeded to call out "Goal, Canada! Goal! Wow! A lot of Canadian fans here! The place goes crazy here in Salt Lake City, and I guess coast to coast in Canada, and all around the world!" When Sakic scored Canada's fifth goal with 1:20 remaining, Cole yelled out "Scores! Joe Sakic scores! And that makes it 5-2 Canada! Surely, that's gotta be it!" As the final seconds of the game ticked away, and as the crowd broke out in perfect unison singing "O Canada", Cole said, "Now after 50 years, it's time for Canada to stand up and cheer. Stand up and cheer everybody! The Olympics Salt Lake City, 2002, men's ice hockey, gold medal: Canada!"[citation needed]

With an average Canadian audience of 10.6 million viewers, that game was the most-watched CBC Sports program, beating the previous record of 4.957 million viewers for Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (the final game of the 1972 Summit Series between an NHL all-star team and the Soviet Union, which had been the most-watched sports program Canadian television history, was simulcast on CBC and CTV while Cole called the game on CBC Radio), in which the New York Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, beating the Vancouver Canucks, another moment Cole himself called: "Here comes the faceoff and blare it Manhattan! The New York Rangers have done it here on a hot June night in New York! The Rangers are Stanley Cup Champions!"[18]

Colour commentators[edit]

Cole's long-time colour commentator on HNIC was Harry Neale, who first teamed up in the 1986–87 season. From 1987 to 2007, the pair together called 20 Stanley Cup Finals, the 1998, 2002, 2006 Winter Olympics, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and 2004 World Cup of Hockey for CBC. Prior to that, his usual partners included Gary Dornhoefer, Mickey Redmond, or John Davidson. Dick Irvin Jr. also often joined his broadcast team as a third man in the booth for big games. Following the departures of Neale and Irvin, Jr., his usual broadcast partners were either Garry Galley or Greg Millen.[citation needed]

Curling[edit]

Prior to his career in broadcasting, Cole was a successful curler,[19] playing in the 1971 and 1975 Briers as the skip for the Newfoundland team. In 1971, he led his team of Les Bowering, Ken Ellis and Alex Andrews to a 4–6 record. At the 1975 Brier, he led his team of Joseph Power Jr., Andrews and Andrew Baird to a 1–10 record. He also played in the 1965 and 1973 Canadian mixed championship, playing second for Dave Pedley in 1965 and skipping in 1973.[20] The Pedley-led rink finished with a 4–6 record at the 1965 Mixed,[21] and Cole led Newfoundland to a 4–6 record at the 1973 Mixed.[22]

Death[edit]

Cole died in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador due to natural causes on April 24, 2024, at the age of 90.[23]

Awards[edit]

In 2007, Cole captured his first Gemini Award in the area of Sports Play-by-Play.[citation needed]

Cole was honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 as the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for broadcasting excellence.[24]

In 2022, he was named the recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards.[25]

Other[edit]

Cole received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's in 2002.[citation needed]

In early 2016, Cole had a cameo at the end of Simple Plan's album Taking One for the Team, calling a fictional hockey game involving the band; he concluded the call with, "Oh my goodness, can you believe it? Just like that, Simple Plan have won the game!".[26]

On September 23, 2016, Cole was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.[27]

Cole's voice could be heard in the CBC 2013 TV film The Magic Hockey Skates (based on the book of the same name).[citation needed]

From 2010 to 2014, Cole was the Voice of the Republic on the CBC TV series Republic of Doyle.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ottawa Senators [@Senators] (June 25, 2013). "Happy 80th Birthday to CBC broadcaster Bob Cole from the Sens. We hope everything is happening on your special day. #HNIC #OhBaby" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-01-07 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b The National. 31 March 2019. CBC Television.
  3. ^ "Hughson to replace Cole as Cup caller". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  4. ^ Houston, William (2008-09-16). "Hughson steps into Cole's spotlight as Hockey Night in Canada lead announcer". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. ^ Simmons, Steve (2013-12-12). "Bob Cole waiting to see if he'll be part of Rogers hockey plans". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  6. ^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (2014-03-13). "Long-time Hockey Night in Canada voice Bob Cole would 'like to keep going' after Rogers takes control of show". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2014-10-22.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Bob Cole to do play-by-play for Rogers hockey". Canadian Press. The Globe and Mail. 2014-06-03. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  8. ^ Traikos, Michael (2018-04-13). "'I will miss it': Bob Cole dismayed over decision to sideline him for playoffs". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  9. ^ "Bob Cole returns for 50th and final season on Hockey Night in Canada". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  10. ^ Gold-Smith, Josh (2019-02-07). "Watch: Bob Cole gets tribute, standing ovation during final game in Toronto". theScore.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  11. ^ "Bob Cole's final HNIC game will be Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  12. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (April 6, 2019). "Legendary play-by-play man Bob Cole makes final call". CBC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Cole humbled by attention to final 'Hockey Night in Canada' broadcast". NHL.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  14. ^ Spiegel, Jackie (2021-08-12). "Canadiens' Ryan Poehling nets hat trick, then shootout game-winner in historic debut vs. Leafs". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  15. ^ Klinkenberg, Marty (April 5, 2019). "After almost 50 years on the air, Hockey Night in Canada godfather Bob Cole hangs up his headset". The Globe and Mail.
  16. ^ Short, Robin. "ROBIN SHORT: 'I'm going to miss this,' Bob Cole says after fans, players salute famed hockey broadcaster | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  17. ^ "Canadian broadcaster Bob Cole ends 50-year career". AP News. 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  18. ^ Ohler, Shawn (February 26, 2002). "Lucky Loonie Stunt Pays Off". Calgary Herald. p. A1. A record-busting average of 8.7 million Canadians watched on television as the men's hockey team snatched gold from the United States in Salt Lake City...The audience actually peaked at 10.6 million, the CBC said Monday...CBC says that prior to Sunday, its highest-rated sports show was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, which attracted an average of 4.97 million viewers.
  19. ^ "Gushue: Cole gave young Newfoundlanders belief they could achieve big things". TSN. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "NLCA Champions". Newfoundland and Labrador Curling Association. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Mixed Title Captured By Calgary Foursome". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. March 22, 1965. p. 19. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Champions recall previous mistakes". Regina Leader-Post. March 31, 1973. p. 36. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "Bob Cole, the play-by-play voice of countless NHL games, dies at 90". CBC. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Hockey Night in Canada inks Cole, Neale". CBC Sports. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  25. ^ Corey Atad, "Canadian Screen Award Academy Announces 2022 Special Award Honourees And Changemakers" Archived 2022-01-18 at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, January 18, 2022.
  26. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (February 19, 2016). "Taking One for the Team - Simple Plan | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  27. ^ Cole receives Order of Canada

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by Canadian network television play-by-play announcer
1981–2008 (with Don Wittman on CBC from 1985 to 1986 and Dan Kelly on CTV/Global from 1985 to 1988) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by American network television play-by-play announcer
1981 		Succeeded by
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