Jim Robson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Robson OBC
Robson speaking before the 2014 Heritage Classic
Born	(1935-01-17)January 17, 1935 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	February 9, 2026(2026-02-09) (aged 91) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Broadcaster
Years active	1952–1999
Spouse(s)	Bea
Children	4

Jim Robson (born January 17, 1935, died February 9, 2026) was a famous Canadian radio and television announcer. He was best known as the exciting "play-by-play" voice for the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. For almost 30 years, from 1970 to 1999, his voice was a big part of Canucks games. Many people called him a "legendary" broadcaster because he was so good at describing the action. Jim Robson was honored with many awards, including being part of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame. He also received the Order of British Columbia in 2011, which is a special award for people who have done great things for the province.

Jim Robson's Exciting Broadcasting Journey

Starting in Radio: From Basketball to Hockey

Jim Robson began his career in broadcasting when he was just 17 years old. He started by covering senior men's basketball games for a radio station called CJAV in Port Alberni. A few years later, in 1955, he moved to CHUB radio in Nanaimo. There, he got to describe exciting sports like the Mann Cup lacrosse finals.

By 1956, Jim moved to Vancouver. He became the voice for several local sports teams. He covered the BC Lions football team, the Vancouver Mounties baseball team, and even the original WHL Vancouver Canucks hockey team.

The Voice of the Vancouver Canucks

When the Vancouver Canucks joined the NHL in 1970, Jim Robson became their main "play-by-play" announcer. This meant he described all the action of the game as it happened, telling listeners exactly what was going on. He was so good that he became known as the "Voice of the Canucks" for almost three decades!

For the first seven years, Jim often worked alone. He would broadcast games, and also host the pre-game, intermission, and post-game shows. Later, other broadcasters joined him. From 1977, he worked with Tom Larscheid, who was a "colour commentator." A colour commentator helps explain the game, offering insights and opinions. Jim also worked with former Canucks player Garry Monahan and Howie Meeker.

Jim Robson also brought the Canucks games to television. From 1985 to 1999, he was the TV announcer for the team. In 1994, he decided to focus only on television broadcasts. His very last radio broadcast was a thrilling Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. After that, he continued as the Canucks' TV announcer for five more seasons before retiring.

Broadcasting for All of Canada

Jim Robson also worked for the famous Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. He mostly covered games in western Canada. He even broadcast the Canucks' very first NHL game on October 9, 1970. Because he was such a talented announcer, he was chosen to cover many important games. These included the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975, 1980, 1982, and 1983. He also covered five NHL All-Star Games, where the best players from the league come together.

Many people across Canada remember Jim Robson's exciting call of Bob Nystrom's winning goal in overtime for the New York Islanders in the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals. For Canucks fans, his voice is connected to all the big moments for the team in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. This includes the exciting playoff runs in 1982 and 1994.

Jim was also known for a special message he shared during every broadcast. He would say "a special hello to all the hospital patients and shut-ins, those of you who can't make it out to the game." This showed his kind and caring personality. He also had a fun way of describing the game, often talking about the team uniforms and making listeners feel like they were having a conversation with him.

Awards and Honors for Jim Robson

Jim Robson received many important awards for his amazing career.

• In 1992, he won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame. This award recognizes excellence in hockey broadcasting.
• He was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.
• In 2000, he joined the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
• The CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame welcomed him in 2002.
• In 2011, he was given the Order of British Columbia, a very high honor in the province.

To remember his contributions, the broadcast booth at Rogers Arena, where the Canucks play, is named after him.

Jim Robson's Famous Calls

Jim Robson's voice made many hockey moments unforgettable. Here are some of his most famous calls:

• 1980 Stanley Cup Final Winning Goal:

The pass, right on the stick of Tonelli. Coming in with Nystrom, Tonelli to Nystrom, HE SCORES! Bob Nystrom scores the goal! The Islanders win the Stanley Cup!

—This was the exciting moment when the New York Islanders won the Stanley Cup in overtime in 1980.

• 1994 Canucks Advance to Stanley Cup Final:

Babych, long shot. Potvin has trouble with it. Adams shoots, SCORES! Greg Adams! Greg Adams! Adams gets the winner fourteen seconds into the second overtime! The Vancouver Canucks are going to the Stanley Cup Final!

—This call describes the thrilling double overtime goal by Greg Adams that sent the Vancouver Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

• 1994 Stanley Cup Final Game 6:

He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches. He will play, and he'll play on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden; the game is over!

—Jim said this as the final seconds of Game 6 in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals counted down. He was talking about Trevor Linden, a Canucks player who was hurt but showed incredible determination.

Jim Robson's Later Years

Jim Robson passed away peacefully in Vancouver on February 9, 2026. He was 91 years old. He will always be remembered for his incredible voice and his passion for sports.