List of Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasters

As a result of both Bell Canada and Rogers Communications having an ownership stake in MLSE, Maple Leafs broadcasts are split between the two media companies; with regional TV broadcasts split between Rogers' Sportsnet Ontario and Bell's TSN4.[1] Colour commentary for Bell's television broadcasts is performed by Ray Ferraro, while play-by-play is provided by Chris Cuthbert and Gord Miller.[2] Colour commentary for Rogers' television broadcasts is performed by Greg Millen, while play-by-play is provided by John Bartlett.[3] MLSE also operates a regional specialty channel, the Leafs Nation Network.[4] The Leafs Nation Network broadcasts programming related to the Maple Leafs, as well as games for the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate.[5]

See also: List of current National Hockey League broadcasters

Television

On Saturday nights, the Toronto Maple Leafs have always been on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. Bill Hewitt did the play-by-play on most, but not all games through 1980-81. Bob Cole did numerous Maple Leafs games starting in 1973-74, and most Maple Leafs games starting in 1981-82. Maple Leafs road games were televised on the Telemeter pay TV service for four years starting on February 28, 1960, when Bill Hewitt and Bob Wolff did the inaugural telecast from New York's Madison Square Garden. Until 1961, only Sunday games were shown and in 1961-62 and 1962-63, Bill Hewitt did play-by-play on all road games played in the United States.

The Maple Leafs appeared on television on Wednesdays starting in 1960, first on CFTO, then on CTV and CHCH with Bill Hewitt on play-by-play. To be more specific, CFTO aired midweek Maple Leafs games starting from the station's inception in 1960 all the way to 1976-77. Then CHCH Hamilton broadcast them from 1977-78 to 1987-88. Then Global's CIII channel 41 had them until at least 1991-92.

In 1981-82, following Bill Hewitt's sudden retirement, various combinations worked these games. Normally, either Mickey Redmond or Gary Dornhoefer served on colour commentary with play-by-play provided from Dave Hodge, Danny Gallivan, or Dan Kelly. Jim Hughson did play-by-play for the Wednesday games from 1982-86, the first three years with Gary Dornhoefer and the fourth with Brad Selwood. In 1986-87, Harry Neale became the mid-week analyst, and play-by-play was done by either Peter Maher, Bruce Buchanan or Erik Tomas. In 1988-89, Joe Bowen did play-by-play on midweek TV games thru 1994-95. From 1995–97, Jiggs McDonald did play-by-play before Bowen's return to TV the following season. When Bowen was doing TV, radio play-by-play was done by Ken Daniels thru 1994-95 and Dennis Beyak starting in 1997-98.

See also: Historical NHL over-the-air television broadcasters

Radio

Like the Maple Leafs television broadcasts, radio broadcasts are split evenly between Rogers' CJCL (Sportsnet 590, The Fan) and Bell's CHUM (TSN Radio 1050). Both Bell and Rogers' radio broadcasts have their colour commentary provided by Jim Ralph, with play-by-play provided by Joe Bowen. Foster Hewitt was the Leafs' first play-by-play broadcaster, providing radio play-by-play from 1927 to 1978. In addition, he provided play-by-play for television from 1952 to 1958, and colour commentary from 1958 to 1961.[8] Originally aired over CFCA, Hewitt's broadcast was picked up by the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (the CRBC) in 1933, moving to CBC Radio (the CRBC's successor) three years later.[9] As the show was aired on Canadian national radio, Hewitt became famous for the phrase "He shoots, he scores!" as well as his sign-on at the beginning of each broadcast, "Hello, Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland."[note 1][10]

References
  1. The Dominion of Newfoundland did not join Canadian Confederation until March 31, 1949. Newfoundland was a separate Dominion of the British Empire from 1907 to 1949.
  1. "Leafs Announce 2014–15 TV & Radio Broadcast Schedule". Toronto Maple Leafs. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  2. "Sep 12, 2019 TSN Delivers 26 Regular Season Toronto Maple Leafs Games as Part of 2019-20 Regional NHL Broadcast". TSN. BellMedia. September 19, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  3. "Sportsnet releases 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast schedule". Sportsnet. Rogers Digital Media. September 12, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  4. "Canada's Walk of Fame Honours Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment with Inaugural 'Friend of Canada's Walk of Fame' Distinction". Cision. CNW Group Ltd. November 16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. "Marlies Games Coming to NHL Network in United States". Toronto Marlies. October 8, 2017. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  6. "Flames' broadcaster joins Leafs' TV crew". Canadian Press. October 5, 1986. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  7. McKee, Ken (October 16, 1987). "Hockey telecasts not place for re-invention of the wheel". Toronto Star.
  8. Leonetti 2014, p. 160–161.
  9. Kevin Shea, ed. (November 9, 2007). "One on One with Foster Hewitt". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. Lennox, Doug (2009). Now You Know Big Book of Sports. Dundurn. p. 18. ISBN 1-7707-0587-2.
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