Award-winner consistently demonstrated ‘unbelievable’ depth of sports knowledge
Columnist Cam Cole was many things over his storied career, not the least being a virtual encyclopedia of sports knowledge, said Postmedia’s senior executive producer of sports, Bev Wake, who worked with him for many years.
“Cam was just amazing to work with,” said the Vancouver-based Wake of Cole, who retired in December 2016 at age 63 and will be honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Scott Burnside, president of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, confirmed Monday that Cole will receive the Elmer Ferguson Award for excellence in hockey journalism.
“The depth of his knowledge — on all sports, not just hockey — is unbelievable,” added Wake, noting Cole started at the Sun in 2005, where he stayed until retiring.
“It’s obvious to anyone who has read him what a gifted writer he is. He could make you laugh, he could make you cry and, most importantly, he could make you think.
“But what was even more impressive to me was how generous he was with his time. He was always available to bat ideas around, to talk about how to approach different stories, and to help other writers. The one word you heard over and over again, when he announced his retirement, was ‘mentor.’ He’s one of those people who truly made those around him better at what they do.”
Among other things, Cole — who covered Canadian and international sports — was inducted into the Canadian Football Reporters Hall of Fame in 2002, watched the great Edmonton Oilers teams grow up, and once caddied for golfing great Jack Nicklaus.
When it came to hockey writing, Wake recalled Cole — an Alberta native whose 41-year career included stints with The Edmonton Journal, National Post and, finally, The Vancouver Sun — as being among the very best.
“There are few people who write hockey like Cam does, and he’s done it all for so long — filing smart analysis off games on ridiculous deadlines, writing beautiful features and profiles, and taking the lead on important issues like player safety and hits to the head.
“He makes it look easy, but there’s a lot of work that goes into a 900-word column.”
Harold Munro, editor-in-chief of The Vancouver Sun and Province, said he was thrilled Cole’s
The one word you heard ... when he announced his retirement, was ‘mentor.’ He’s one of those people who truly made those around him better at what they do.
legacy now includes enshrinement in the hall of fame.
“He is a modest superstar, deeply admired by his journalistic peers and adored by readers,” Munro said. “We were fortunate that he called The Vancouver Sun home for so many years.”
At the time of Cole’s retirement, Vancouver Sun sports columnist Iain MacIntyre wrote that Cole’s “breadth of experiences and sporting interests allowed him to be the alpha male of that endangered animal, the general sports columnist.”