Bob Cole

Bob Cole was a Canadian sports broadcaster best known as the long-time play-by-play voice of English-language hockey coverage on *Hockey Night in Canada*.

Bob Cole was a Canadian sports broadcaster best known as the long-time play-by-play voice of English-language hockey coverage on *Hockey Night in Canada*. Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, he worked in hockey broadcasting for five decades and died in 2024 at age 90. He is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most iconic sportscasters and a major figure in Canadian hockey culture.

Early life

Robert Cecil Cole was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on 24 June 1933. Sources describe him as a Newfoundland broadcaster who began his career in local radio before joining national hockey coverage.

Broadcasting career

Cole first called an NHL game for CBC Radio in 1969 and later moved to CBC television in 1973. He became closely associated with *Hockey Night in Canada*, where he was the lead play-by-play announcer for nearly three decades. He also covered Olympic hockey and other Olympic Games for about 45 years.

Signature hockey coverage

Cole’s career included decades of NHL play-by-play and major international events, including Olympic hockey. He became one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian sports broadcasting.

Honours and legacy

Cole received major honours including the Order of Canada, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, and induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 for broadcasting excellence. He died in St. John’s on 24 April 2024 at age 90.