Foster Hewitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Foster William Hewitt
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Foster Hewitt, 1945
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| Born | November 21, 1902 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | April 21, 1985 (aged 82) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
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| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Kathleen How (1903–1969, m. 1925) |
| Children | Elizabeth Ann Somerville (1926–1977) Bill Hewitt (1928–1996) |
| Awards | Order of Canada Foster Hewitt Memorial Award |
Foster William Hewitt (November 21, 1902 – April 21, 1985) was a famous Canadian radio broadcaster. He was best known for his exciting play-by-play calls for Hockey Night in Canada. Foster Hewitt was the son of W. A. Hewitt and the father of Bill Hewitt, who also became a sportscaster.
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Biography of Foster Hewitt
Early Life and His Start in Radio
Foster Hewitt was born in Toronto, Ontario. He went to Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto. During his school years, he was a talented boxer, even winning a championship title.
Hewitt became interested in radio at a young age. As a teenager, he went with his father, W. A. Hewitt, to Detroit, Michigan. There, they saw a demonstration of new radio technology.
He first worked for a company that made radios. Later, his father, who was a sports editor for the Toronto Daily Star, told him the newspaper was starting its own radio station. Hewitt joined the paper as a reporter and was ready to go on the air when the station, CFCA, began.
First Hockey Broadcasts
CFCA's first hockey broadcast happened on February 8, 1923. Another person, Norman Albert, did the first play-by-play for that game. Foster Hewitt's first broadcast was likely on February 16, for a game between the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club and the Kitchener Greenshirts. He later remembered this game going into overtime, which it did.
On May 24, 1925, Foster and his father made history. They broadcast what was believed to be the world's first horse race on radio. In 1927, he was invited to announce the first game from the new Detroit Olympia arena.
When Maple Leaf Gardens opened on November 12, 1931, Foster Hewitt was a big part of the opening night. He even helped design the special broadcast "gondola" where he would announce games. This unique broadcast booth was built high above the ice, giving him a great view.
Becoming the Voice of Hockey Night in Canada
For 40 years, Foster Hewitt was the main voice for hockey broadcasts in Canada. He worked on the General Motors and later Imperial Oil Limited Hockey Broadcasts every Saturday night. These shows were heard across Canada on national radio.
Hewitt became famous for his exciting phrase, "He shoots, he scores!" He also had a well-known greeting at the start of each broadcast: "Hello, Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland."
Hockey Night in Canada games from Toronto were also shown on television starting in 1952. Foster Hewitt did the TV play-by-play until 1958. After that, his son, Bill Hewitt, took over the TV duties. Foster then provided extra commentary for the Saturday night games on TV. He continued to do play-by-play for weeknight games on radio. After 1963, Foster focused only on radio broadcasts, while Bill worked on television.
In 1951, Foster Hewitt started his own radio station in Toronto, called CKFH. This station broadcasted Maple Leafs games for many years.
Later Years and Legacy
Foster Hewitt retired from television in 1963. However, he kept broadcasting Maple Leafs games on radio until 1968. In 1965, he became one of the owners of the WHL Vancouver Canucks, which was a minor professional hockey team at the time.
Hewitt came out of retirement to broadcast the exciting 1972 Summit Series. This was a famous hockey tournament between Canada and the Soviet Union.
Foster Hewitt received many honors for his work. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965. In 1972, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is a high honor for Canadians. The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame is named after him. This award recognizes excellence in hockey broadcasting. The media booth at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is also named after him. Sadly, Hewitt's original broadcast gondola from Maple Leaf Gardens was taken down and destroyed in 1979.
Foster Hewitt was also inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1996, he joined the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Foster Hewitt and his wife, Elizabeth Kathleen How, had two children: a son named Bill Hewitt and a daughter named Elizabeth Ann Somerville. Foster Hewitt passed away on April 21, 1985, at the age of 82, in Scarborough, Ontario.
Images for kids
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The Hewitt family tombstone in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
