Bob Cole (sportscaster)
| Bob Cole CM | |
|---|---|
Bob Cole pictured before a playoff game on May 22, 2012
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| Born |
Robert Cecil Cole June 24, 1933 St. John's, Dominion of Newfoundland (present day Newfoundland and Labrador) |
| Occupation | Sports announcer for Hockey Night in Canada |
| Years active | 1969-present |
| Employer | Rogers Media |
Robert Cecil "Bob" Cole CM (born June 24, 1933) is a Canadian sports television announcer who works for CBC and former competitive curler. He is known primarily for his work on Hockey Night in Canada.
Cole began broadcasting hockey on CBC Radio in 1969 and moved to television in 1973 when Hockey Night in Canada (HNIC) expanded its coverage. Cole was the primary 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. Until Rogers acquired the NHL rights, he had been HNIC's number two play-by-play man since 2008, primarily calling Montreal Canadiens games. His voice was also heard by a United States television audience whenever NBCSN simulcast an HNIC game that he was calling.
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." Cole later stated, "I'd like to keep going. I feel good. I love the game. I still get passionate. I still get butterflies." In June 2014, Rogers confirmed that Cole would be part of their play-by-play team." Since then, he also does call selected games for Rogers Hometown Hockey, a Sunday night telecast airing on Sportsnet.
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