Jim Robson

For the Australian politician, seeJim Robson (politician).

Jim Robson
Robson speaking before the2014 Heritage Classic
Born	(1935-01-17)January 17, 1935 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan,Canada
Occupation	former broadcaster
Years active	1952–1999
Spouse	Bea
Children	4

Jim RobsonOBC(born January 17, 1935) is a former radio and television broadcaster who was the play-by-play announcer of theVancouver Canucks' games from 1970 to 1999.

Broadcasting career

Robson started his career at the age of 17 covering senior men's basketball forCJAVradio stationinPort Alberni.In 1955, Robson started working forCHUBradio inNanaimo,where he covered theMann Cuplacrossefinals.

By 1956, Robson found himself inVancouvercovering theBC Lionsfootball team,theVancouver Mountiesbaseballteam and the thenWHLVancouver Canuckshockeyteam onCKWX.

Vancouver Canucks

When the Vancouver Canucks became anNHLexpansion teamin1970,Robson moved toCKNWto announce the team's games; he was popularly known as the"Voice of the Canucks"for nearly three decades. For the first seven years, he usually worked alone. For road games, he broadcast the game without acolour commentatorand provided thepre-game,intermission, and post-game shows. In 1977–78, he was joined by former BC Lions player and broadcasterTom Larscheid.From 1983–84 to 1987–88, his broadcasting partner was ex-CanuckGarry Monahanbefore Larscheid rejoined him in 1988–89.

He also covered the Vancouver Canucks ontelevision broadcastsonBCTV,CHEK-TVandVTVfrom 1985–86 through 1998–99. From 1987–88 to 1993–94, Robson provided both radio and televisionplay-by-playfor the Canucks on simulcasts, alongside colour commentators Monahan and Larschei, andHowie Meekerjoined him on both TV and radio in1985–86.

Robson stepped down as the radio announcer for the Canucks in 1994 and moved to television full-time. His lastradio broadcastwas game seven of the1994 Stanley Cup Finalsbetween the Canucks and theNew York Rangers.Robson served as the Canucks' TV announcer for five more seasons, working alongside colour commentatorsDarcy Rota(1994–95 to 1995–96) andRyan Walter(1996–97 to 1998–99). His replacement on radio wasJim Hughson,who later moved to Rogers Sportsnet, and then to CBC'sHockey Night in Canada.In his final year, Robson split television play-by-play duties with rookieJohn Shorthouse,who is now the announcer for the Canucks on TV and radio.

National television

Jim Robson also worked forCBC'sHockey Night in Canada,mostly covering games inwestern Canada.It was forHNICthat he broadcast the Canucks' first NHL game, a 3–1 home loss to theLos Angeles Kingson October 9, 1970. His reputation as one of the top broadcasters in the business earned him assignments to cover theStanley Cup Finalsin1975,1980,1982(in which the Canucks faced theNew York Islanders), and1983.

He also covered theNHL All-Star Gamesin 1977 (Vancouver), 1981 (Los Angeles), and 1983 (Long Island). He leftHNICafter the 1984–85 season, but had a couple of national TV assignments afterward; for CBC in the 1987 playoffs andCanWest Globalfor the 1988Smythe DivisionFinal between theEdmonton OilersandCalgary Flames.

Nationally, Jim Robson is probably best remembered for his call ofBob Nystrom's Cup-winning overtime goal for the Islanders in 1980.Locally, his voice is linked to every significant Canucks moment in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, particularly the1982and1994 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Robson was also well known for taking time to say "a special hello to all the hospital patients and shut-ins, those of you who can't make it out to the game", during each of his broadcasts, both on radio and TV. On Hockey Night in Canada, he also used to make a statement prior to the opening face-off regarding team uniform colors, for example, "tonight it's the Vancouver Canucks at the Calgary Flames, the Flames in home jerseys- trimmed in gold & white; the Canucks in road jerseys- trimmed in black & yellow". The notion of 'trimmed' was Robson's unique quote among HNIC play-by-play announcers.

Achievements

Off-the-air,Jim was involved in the community being in-demand as aguest speakerfor numerousfund-raisingdinners and banquets throughout the province ofBritish Columbia.He served as a Director of the BC Benevolent Hockey Association and the Canucks Alumni.

Jim was awarded theFoster Hewitt Memorial Awardby theHockey Hall of Famein 1992, and was inducted into theB.C. Hockey Hall of Famein 1998 and theB.C. Sports Hall of Famein 2000.

In 2002, at theCanadian Association of Broadcastersannual meeting in Vancouver, Jim Robson was inducted to theCAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.

The broadcast booth atRogers Arenais named after him.

Memorable calls

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

— The overtime goal that won the Stanley Cup for the New York Islanders in 1980

Babych,long shot.Potvinhas 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!

— The double overtime goal that advanced his team, 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 atMadison Square Garden;the game is over!

— The call as the final seconds ticked off the clock of Game 6 in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. He was referring toTrevor Linden,who was very bloody after taking a high stick, which led to the one of the most famous photos in Vancouver Canucks history, of Linden hugging Canucks goaltenderKirk McLean,with blood on Linden's jersey.