Jim Robson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Robson
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Robson speaking before the 2014 Heritage Classic
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| Born | January 17, 1935 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Occupation | former broadcaster |
| Years active | 1952–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | Bea |
| Children | 4 |
Jim Robson (born January 17, 1935) is a famous former radio and television announcer. He was the main voice for the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team from 1970 to 1999. He is also a member of the Order of British Columbia, a special award for people who have done great things for the province.
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Jim Robson: The Voice of Hockey
Jim Robson started his exciting career in broadcasting when he was just 17 years old. He began by covering senior men's basketball games for a radio station in Port Alberni. In 1955, he moved to Nanaimo and covered the Mann Cup lacrosse finals.
By 1956, Jim was working in Vancouver. He covered many sports teams there. These included the BC Lions football team, the Vancouver Mounties baseball team, and the WHL Vancouver Canucks hockey team.
Announcing for the Vancouver Canucks
When the Vancouver Canucks joined the NHL in 1970, Jim Robson became their official play-by-play announcer. He was often called the "Voice of the Canucks" for almost 30 years! For the first seven years, he usually worked alone. He would even do the pre-game, intermission, and post-game shows by himself for away games.
Later, other broadcasters joined him. From 1977, Tom Larscheid worked with him. Then, former Canucks player Garry Monahan was his partner for a few years. Tom Larscheid rejoined him in 1988.
Jim Robson also announced Canucks games on television from 1985 to 1999. Sometimes, he would do both radio and TV broadcasts at the same time. Famous hockey commentator Howie Meeker also joined him on TV and radio in 1985.
Jim stopped being the main radio announcer for the Canucks in 1994. His last radio game was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. This was a very exciting game between the Canucks and the New York Rangers. After that, he worked only on television for five more seasons. He worked with former players Darcy Rota and Ryan Walter as his TV partners.
Broadcasting on National Television
Jim Robson also worked for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. This is a very popular national hockey show. He mostly covered games in western Canada. He even announced the Canucks' very first NHL game on October 9, 1970.
His amazing skills as a broadcaster led him to cover many Stanley Cup Finals games. He announced the finals in 1975, 1980, 1982, and 1983. He also covered the NHL All-Star Games in Vancouver (1977), Los Angeles (1981), and Long Island (1983).
Jim left Hockey Night in Canada after the 1984-85 season. However, he still did a few national TV games after that. He is especially remembered for his call of Bob Nystrom's winning goal in overtime for the Islanders in the 1980 Stanley Cup Final.
Locally, his voice is connected to all the big moments for the Canucks in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. This includes their exciting playoff runs in 1982 and 1994.
Jim Robson was also known for his kind words during broadcasts. He would always say "a special hello to all the hospital patients and shut-ins, those of you who can't make it out to the game." He also had a unique way of describing team uniforms on Hockey Night in Canada, using the word 'trimmed'.
Jim Robson's Achievements
Outside of broadcasting, Jim Robson was very involved in his community. He was often asked to speak at dinners and events that raised money for good causes across British Columbia. He also helped lead the BC Benevolent Hockey Association and the Canucks Alumni.
Jim received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1992. This award is given by the Hockey Hall of Fame to hockey broadcasters. He was also inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2000, he joined the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2002, Jim Robson was honored again. He was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame. Today, the broadcast booth at Rogers Arena, where the Canucks play, is named after him.
Memorable Calls by Jim Robson
Jim Robson made many famous calls during his career. Here are a few of them:
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 overtime goal that won the Stanley Cup for the New York Islanders in 1980.
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 was the double overtime goal that sent the Vancouver Canucks to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.
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 ticked away. He was talking about Trevor Linden, a Canucks player who was bleeding after being hit with a high stick. This moment led to a famous photo of Linden hugging Canucks goalie Kirk McLean.
