Tributes pour in from across North America for `legendary' Cole
Reaction from around the hockey world on the passing of Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Cole:
“Just a super genuine hockey lover. Obviously, his call is so connected to Hockey Night in Canada. Having played six years in Winnipeg and three years in Toronto, any time that he would walk into the room, you knew it was a big game. Just a great man.”
TNT hockey broadcaster Ed Olczyk, a former Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs forward.
“He was such a legendary announcer and such an awesome human being. That's a tough loss for the hockey world.”
Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar.
“Super funny and just a great guy. Some of the best calls of all time. An amazing person.”
Avalanche forward Nathan Mackinnon.
“We lost a wonderful human being. I spent a lot of time with Bob over the years. There's not necessarily a specific story, but the most important thing is that all the coaches around the league and all the hockey people, they trusted him. He was a true pro. You could tell him anything and he called a great game.”
Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness.
“Someone who touched the game
in so many ways. The voice of hockey not just in Toronto, but in our country.”
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.
“I went to his golf tournament a couple of times in the Maritimes and spent a lot of time there. You know, he's a legend. Just hanging out with him at those golf tournaments was special for me.” Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
“The iconic and incomparable soundtrack of hockey across Canada for more than 50 years. From countless winter Saturday nights on Hockey Night in Canada to the 1972 Summit Series to multiple Olympic Games to dozens of Stanley Cup finals, his distinctive, infectious play-by-play made every game he called sound bigger.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
“I'm probably not coaching in this league if it wasn't growing up and having a passion for this game because of the voice of that man as a little kid. It was all because of the emotion that Bob Cole brought to this game. And he's the Wayne Gretzky of announcers. My passion for this game is built on what Bob Cole said.”
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.
“Everyone who ever did play-byplay of a hockey game and anyone who ever does in the future will stand in the shadow of Bob Cole,” TSN hockey broadcaster Gord Miller.
“He had a passion that every hockey fan felt every time he announced a game. There will only be one Bob Cole. And now he's gone.” Broadcaster John Shannon, a former executive producer of Hockey Night in Canada at CBC.
“I think he's going to be remembered as a Newfoundlander that really made it on a big scale. At times during my career, I'd talk to him about how things were going. The one thing with Bob, he was always very honest with me and very direct. He gave me some good advice.”
Six-time Brier champion Brad Gushue. “He was an incredible man with an incredible voice. Hearing him call games played by our heroes allowed us to dream and to realize that we could achieve great heights in any endeavour and on any stage. While his impact on the world of hockey was immense, he was something extra special for this province.” Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey.