But Dick wasn't the play by play guy. Gallivan did play by play and Irvin did colour.Dick Irvin often did play by play after Danny departed for his retirement to Atlanta, GA.

For me Jim Robson was second only to Danny Gallivan (I think he was partly responsible for me becoming a life long Canadiens fan). Jim had a unique way of raising the excitement in his voice as the play lead up to a goal or great scoring chance. His descriptions on the radio really gave you a sense of being there.

I grew up listening to Jim Robson do the play-by-play of the WHL Vancouver Canucks games in winter and the PCL Vancouver Mounties (when future allstar Brooks Robinson was playing here) in the summer. He was the type of guy that took the time to write me a personal letter in an answer to a question I sent him back in those times (I still have that letter).

I've already voted for the one and only Danny Gallivan, however, in today's NHL, I really enjoy the FSN Pittsburgh duo of Mike Lang and Bob Errey.

Mike is famous for his crazy sayings after the Pens score:

"he stashed that one up where momma hides the cookies" and "well scratch my back with a hacksaw" are two of his latest...but he continues to invent new sayings everytime they score...and he growls then out in a hyped up way that my son and I just sit back and wait for it...then kick off laughing...because they are so appropriate, for that particular goal.

Wow! Eight people (as of this writing) actually voted for Bob Cole!?!? Must be kids who have never heard a real hockey announcer like Danny Gallivan. I actually turn off the sound rather than listen to that blowhard talentless Toronto homeboy.

...in today's NHL, I really enjoy the FSN Pittsburgh duo of Mike Lang and Bob Errey.Here's another Langism: "Beats him like a rented mule!"

...and probably the best/worst hockey pun of all time, when a player was penalized for dumping goalie Chris Terreri, who had travelled way outside his crease: "Its a long way to trip Terreri!" (pun on WWI marching song "Its a long way to Tipperary").

I couldn't stand Danny Gallivan growing up. Probably had something to do with him being a homer broadcaster for the Canadiens. Looking back I guess he was pretty good. You could probably guess who I liked..Bill Hewitt.

I've already voted for the one and only Danny Gallivan, however, in today's NHL, I really enjoy the FSN Pittsburgh duo of Mike Lang and Bob Errey.

Mike is famous for his crazy sayings after the Pens score:

"he stashed that one up where momma hides the cookies" and "well scratch my back with a hacksaw" are two of his latest...but he continues to invent new sayings everytime they score...and he growls then out in a hyped up way that my son and I just sit back and wait for it...then kick off laughing...because they are so appropriate, for that particular goal.

I know Lang is in the HHOF, but listening to him and Errey is almost as bad as listening to the three homers that do the Flyers TV games. I watched the Pens-Leafs games and Lang and Errey spent very little time actually talking about what was going on on the ice!

I'll give Lang credit for this one-liner --- "Recchi hasn't had a chance for such an easy score since the 8th grade picnic!"

As for the best of the best -- I've got to go with Gallivan, Foster H. then Dan Kelly

How's this...

Here they come, the Montreal Canadiens, the greatest team in ice hockey, led by Big Jean Beliveau :)

He was music to the ears...on Saturday nights.It struck me the other night watching an NHL game that the pregame on-ice activities were so manic, loud, and frantic that any sense of excitement was almost purely artificial, created by lasers, smoke bombs, blaring dance mixes, screaming PA announcers, and cheerleaders.

Amongst all that, it was the sight of the players skating warmups in their end of the ice that gave me the only sense of "real" anticipation of the game. I'm not knocking what the NHL's marketing gurus say a typical U.S. fan needs to get them revved up for a game, but I recalled dm_4u's memoir of Danny Gallivan and how it was such a different environment for him.

In Danny Gallivan's day, apart from the organist in every NHL rink there was only the players taking to the ice and the applause of the crowd, with Danny painting a glorious picture in words of the forthcoming Herculean struggle.

Danny didn't need no special effects - he was magic all on his own. Today he would probably be drowned-out by the artificial hoopla.

In Danny Gallivan's day, apart from the organist in every NHL rink there was only the players taking to the ice and the applause of the crowd, with Danny painting a glorious picture in words of the forthcoming Herculean struggle. But they did have Roger Doucet with his stirring renditions of the national anthem(s).

But they did have Roger Doucet with his stirring renditions of the national anthem(s).Absolutely! What an incredible performance guaranteed every time! Anyone know if they still use old video of Roger at the occasional Habs home game?

It struck me the other night watching an NHL game that the pregame on-ice activities were so manic, loud, and frantic that any sense of excitement was almost purely artificial, created by lasers, smoke bombs, blaring dance mixes, screaming PA announcers, and cheerleaders.

The other irritating thing is the horn that sounds, usually up to three times, when the home team scores then comes whatever music afterwards which all drown out the fans cheering. Obviously in some markets where there are more empty seats than filled ones I can understand the need to do this but not at mostly filled arenas. Let's hear the home fans cheer.

Who the hell are the seven people who voted for Chris Cuthberth?

It is also now apparent by a single vote that Don Wittman lurks on these boards.

Geez this has got me remembering other old names/faces from the Montreal Forum on HNIC: Roger Doucette singing the National Anthem; Claude Mouton, the PA Announcer who used to say "... and da turd star..."; Ted Darling; Donny Marshall, Mickey Redmond...

Toronto names/faces on HNIC too: Ward Cornell, Brian McFarlane, Dave Hodge, Bob Goldham, Stafford Smythe, and of course Howie Meeker...
Even though I was thrilled every Saturday night as I grew up, by Foster Hewitt's Hockey Night in Canada, I wholehartedly agree with stampeder that Danny Galivan was the best in English and without doubt Rene Lecacalier the best in French.

Also Roger Doucette was magic with his rendition of the anthem and I now would like to add Lyndon Slewidge, who sings the anthems in Ottawa as one at the same level as Roger, Danny and Rene.

Who the hell are the seven people who voted for Chris Cuthberth?

It is also now apparent by a single vote that Don Wittman lurks on these boards.
Hi Biglyle et all,

Sorry, it's been a while since I've posted but I've been very busy and just got home from the TFC game.

I voted for Chris, but I have a bias as I've worked with 'most' of the people on that list... minus the ones I was too young to have worked with :) and for me it's Chris - but probably not for the reasons most people think.

Total class act. Total professional. Great game caller and most of all not a single ounce of upitiness that some on-air people have.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Cheers,

Andrew

I guess he was a homer, but being a Habs fan, I never noticed. LOL! He gave me a love for hockey and language that I am very grateful for. All those exotic French names beguiled me as a young lad in Northern Ontario (J.C. Tremblay, Cournoyer, Paulin Bordeleau, Rogatien Vachon, and later..Lafleur, Savard, Lapointe. and ...JImmy Roberts! wink) I think he had the best voice ever for sports ( I also liked Bill Hewitt and the great Dan Kelly) and I can recall the unique cadence of his delivery..."Savard...rather gingerly....up to Lemaire.." He froze moments in time as you thought "yes! it was rather 'gingerly" ..wasn't it?" and then the rising excitement in his voice as the play progressed towards the goal. All withouth the shouting and stupid theatrics of most of them today. Remember "a gathering of the clan" and "Savardian spinnerama" and even an "eNORmous" save? Damn it. I miss him. Now I go to Sens games and they have so much bloody noise and commercials and they tell you when to cheer and WHAT TO SAY when you cheer. Try cheering at other non-designated times and you will have an usher in your face! No kidding at all. Its a controlled corporate environment and you are lucky to hear the skates on the ice..hey..go to junior games instead. Much more fun.

But I also thought he did a great job of praising the other team and never felt like the Habs were going to win easily. It was likely to be a win of course as from 65 to 79 they were the greatest sustained dynasty in the history of hockey so it's hardly Danny`s fault if he came to identify with them. 10 cups in 14 years will do that to you. But I remember his love for players like Keon, Ratelle, Orr, Esposito, Bucyk, Bathgate, Delvechhio, Giacomin, Cheevers and many others.

1. Jim Hughson
2. Bob Cole
3. Chris Cuthbert
4. Jim Robson
5. Don Wittman
6. Dick Irvin




never heard of these guys:
Danny Gallivan
Bill Hewitt
Dan Kelly

Foster Hewitt - I have heard of this guy but i have never listened to him

never heard of these guys:
Danny Gallivan
Bill Hewitt
Dan Kelly

Foster Hewitt - I have heard of this guy but i have never listened to himMethinks you never saw HNIC before the early 90s!

And you never watched the 1972 Canada/Russia series. Foster Hewitt's call of the winning goal by Paul Henderson still gives me cold chills 35 years later.

You can watch Henderson's goal (along with Foster's call) here on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBFlMeViLCY

You should add 'ENGLISH' to the thread title.
Some Quebec blokes (I'm one) have listened to some amazing French language PbPA.