Toronto — Bob Cole was the nation's soundtrack.
The St. John's, Newfoundland native's iconic pipes have been part of Canada's cultural fabric for 50 years, and his “Hockey Night in Canada” play-by-play provides vivid verbal descriptions of the action on the ice. did. .
Just ask his colleagues.
“His voice was a Stradivarius,'' the “Hockey Night in Canada'' play-by-play host said after learning of Cole's death Wednesday night surrounded by his loved ones in St. John's, his family said. Chris Cuthbert said on Thursday. . He was 90 years old.
One of Cuthbert's favorite memories of Cole happened many years ago during the weekend of the station's charity golf tournament in Newfoundland. Cole gathered the group and climbed together to the top of St. John's towering Signal Hill at 5 a.m. to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.
“We sing Bob's favorite Frank Sinatra early in the morning to celebrate the arrival of a new day in Canada,” Cuthbert said. “It might be the most Canadian thing ever.”
Not completely. For many, his calls were every Saturday night during the season.
“When you heard his voice, it was comforting,” said former “Hockey Night in Canada” play-by-play broadcaster Jim Hewson. “Once I heard his voice, I knew it was hockey. I knew this was Canada, right? And I knew it was either Saturday night or the playoffs. ”
In 2016, Cole was awarded the Order of Canada. For the many colleagues and fans who paid their respects to him Thursday, this is just another chapter for a man everyone considers a national legend.
Chris Cuthbert (“Hockey Night in Canada” live broadcaster, 1984-2004, 2020-present)
“If this country had a Mount Rushmore hockey broadcaster, he'd be up there with Foster Hewitt, Danny Gallivan and Dan Kelly. If you think about it, Foster and Bob combined for 90 He has been the voice of this sport for 90 years!
“There are a lot of iconic calls he made. But for me, Bob Cole's perfect vintage call was in Game 2 of the 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars when Mario… It was when Lemieux went end-to-end past two defensemen to score. The surprise in his voice when he yelled, “Oh, baby,” was clearly felt by everyone. It was representing. ”
