Best HNIC Play by Play Announcer Of All Time?

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by HeaTransfer

Stopitrightthere, stopitrightthere.

Followed by something like "...hee hee hee...here's where Sittler slides it over to Errol Thompson and with a backhand he really puts the hoop around the barrel!.. hee hee hee... that's the way its done, kids!"

[stampeder]

I put Jim Robson's name back up, and I want readers to know that he would be showing at least 2 votes by now.

[dolfin61]

Robson gets my vote...it's all in what you're used to hearing. Hughson is very high for me as well for that reason. Can't stand Cole - but he was somewhat better in his younger years...Cuthbert is very good and I can't believe CBC tossed him. There are a few on the list I haven't heard obviously due to my age (early 30s)...but one thing I do know - Jim Robson cannot have less votes than Don Whitman (I guess technically Robson has 3 now and Whitman 1)

[Nanuuk]

Danny Gallivan was the greatest, bar none. Foster Hewitt was a close second though. I miss those days of alternating HNIC. If we did that today perhaps we could showcase the local CBC talent in all Canadian cities. I know, not realistic. for what its worth, of all current play by play men, I think Chris Cuthbert is the only one with the potential to match Gallivan.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by ranjy

i remember as a kid watching the habs and listening to dick irvin...still think he was the best (that I heard).

But Dick wasn't the play by play guy. Gallivan did play by play and Irvin did colour.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by Wayne

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.

[HiDefBob]

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).

[dm_4u]

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.

[Flavius]

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.

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by dm_4u

...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").

[Doug30]

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.

[STEVE2526]

Originally Posted by dm_4u

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

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by dm_4u

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.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by stampeder

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).

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by Wayne

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?