Danny Gallivan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danny Gallivan
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| Born | April 11, 1917 Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Died | February 24, 1993 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Radio and television sportscaster |
| Years active | 1946–1984 |
Danny Gallivan (born April 11, 1917 – died February 24, 1993) was a famous Canadian sports announcer. He was known for his exciting play-by-play calls of ice hockey games on radio and television. Many people remember him as the voice of Hockey Night in Canada.
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Early Life and Sports
Danny Gallivan was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. As a young person, he loved sports. He was a talented baseball pitcher. In 1937, his team won a big championship.
He even got a chance to try out for the New York Giants, a professional baseball team. Sadly, an arm injury ended his dream of playing in the major leagues.
After his baseball career ended, Danny started working in radio. He attended St. Francis Xavier University and also taught high school. He even served in the Canadian Army for a short time. To pay for his schooling, he worked at a steel plant during the summers.
The Voice of Hockey Night in Canada
In 1946, Danny moved to Halifax and became a sports director. He started calling junior hockey games. A producer from Hockey Night in Canada heard him. In 1950, Danny got his big break. He filled in for a sick announcer and impressed everyone.
In 1952, Danny Gallivan officially joined Hockey Night in Canada. He spent 32 years there, mostly calling games for the Montreal Canadiens. He announced over 1,900 games. This included 16 Stanley Cup victories for the Canadiens! He retired after the 1983–84 season.
Danny worked with other famous broadcasters. Dick Irvin Jr. was his co-announcer for 18 years. Later, Mickey Redmond joined them in the broadcast booth.
Danny's Special Words: "Gallivanisms"
Danny Gallivan was famous for his unique way of describing hockey. He used colourful and exciting words. These special phrases became known as "Gallivanisms."
For example, a hard shot wasn't just a shot; it was a "cannonading drive." A great save by the goalie was "scintillating" or "larcenous." If the puck got stuck, it was in the goalie's "paraphernalia."
He would say a goalie "kicked out his pad in rapier-like fashion" for a quick save. If a team wasn't scoring, their offense was "anemic." When a shot missed the net, it went "nowhere near the net."
One of his most famous "Gallivanisms" was the "spinarama." This described a player turning quickly (180 or 360 degrees) to get away from an opponent. The Montreal Canadiens player Serge Savard was very good at this move. So, it was also called "The Savardian Spinarama." The word "spinarama" is now even in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary!
Later Life and Legacy
Danny Gallivan retired in 1984. He had a serious illness that caused him to lose sight in one eye. Even after retiring, he stayed busy. He worked with many charities. He also received several awards for his broadcasting career.
He even appeared in a few movies and TV shows. He was in the 1975 film The Million Dollar Hockey Puck. He also lent his voice to the animated TV special, The Raccoons on Ice.
Danny Gallivan passed away on February 24, 1993, at the age of 75.
Danny was married to Eileen MacPhee. They had four children together.
His legacy lives on through several honours. Cape Breton University and St. Francis Xavier University both have scholarships in his name. There's also the Danny Gallivan Golf Tournament. This event has raised a lot of money for cystic fibrosis research over the years.
Tributes and Awards
When Danny Gallivan died, the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that Danny was a "broadcast legend." He touched the lives of millions of hockey fans.
Danny Gallivan received many important awards for his work:
- 1974 - ACTRA Sportscaster of the Year Award
- 1980 - Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (builder category)
- 1984 - Hockey Hall of Fame Media Honouree
- 1985 - Received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from St. Francis Xavier University
- 1989 - Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
- 1990 - Broadcast Recognition Award from the Atlantic Broadcasters' Association
- 1991 - Inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
- 2015 - Inducted into the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame (Builder category)
