Remembering Jim Robson: A Legendary Voice in Hockey Broadcasting
The disheartening news of Jim Robson's passing arrived just three days after he hosted a modest luncheon for what he fondly called the "Fairly Old Boys Olympic Men's Hockey Pool." Robson, a beloved figure in the world of sports, died on Monday evening at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy filled with hundreds of wonderful stories and events that have been documented and celebrated since his departure.
A Life of Stories and Impact
Having known Robson for six decades, Greg Douglas shares a few poignant tales that Robson recently recounted. Although unaware at the time, Robson's first 'road trip' occurred in 1935, when his family moved from Glen Bush, Saskatchewan, to Prince Albert on the banks of the Northern Saskatchewan River. This move was recommended by the family doctor after his mother became pregnant with Jim, as the doctor had safely delivered his three siblings in their small roadside wooden shack in Glen Bush.
His father worked cutting railway ties and took on various jobs in the bush, always making time each winter to create a backyard rink. Using a garden hose, he built layers of ice in temperatures as low as 60 below zero, fostering Robson's early love for hockey. Saturday nights in the Robson household were 'bath nights,' a mandatory routine enjoyed while listening to Foster Hewitt's legendary radio play-by-play hockey broadcasts, which unified the country from coast to coast.
A Broadcasting Career That Touched Many
Little did anyone know that about 30 years later, Jim Robson would become the voice of the Vancouver Canucks, calling games from the famous gondola at Maple Leaf Gardens, just yards away from where Foster Hewitt began each broadcast with his iconic greeting. Robson called over 2,000 NHL games on radio and television between 1970 and April 14, 1999, the night of his final broadcast, which only he and his wife Bea knew would be his farewell.
In every game, Robson gave a special salute to his listeners: "A special hello to hospital patients and shut-ins, the pensioners, the blind and all the people who can’t get out to games but enjoy the hockey broadcasts." This became his trademark, and despite some pretentious Hockey Night in Canada television executives trying to get him to refrain, thinking it was 'amateurish' for a national telecast, Robson stood his ground.
Unexpected Connections and Memorable Moments
One day, Robson realized he was acknowledging another segment of his audience when he received a scribbled thank-you note from a prisoner at the B.C. Penitentiary. The note, signed by Tom Scallen, the original Canucks owner who had been sentenced in 1973 on charges of securities fraud, read: "Thanks for remembering us. We wait for your hello and bang our tin cups on the bars." Scallen also owned Ice Follies in the early 1970s, and whenever that show played Madison Square Garden, the skaters and crew stayed at the old New Yorker Hotel.
As part of a package deal, the Canucks booked the same lodging for their first visit to New York City on December 8, 1970. The team lost 4-1, and upon returning to the hotel, players discovered that rings and watches left behind had been stolen by a hotel staffer with a master key. Robson initially felt relieved for hiding his valuables but then found his per diem travel money was part of the heist.
Challenges and Recognition
Another visit to Madison Square Garden in those early days haunted Robson. Working solo without a color commentator, he nearly missed the entire CKNW broadcast when he got trapped in a narrow, tunnel-like hallway an hour before game time. After a pre-game interview with New York head coach Emile Francis, Rangers' farm director Dennis Ball suggested a "short cut" up to ice level on the fifth floor.
Following instructions, Robson went through a heavy metal door that slammed shut behind him, locking from the outside. When he reached the other end, he found that door also locked. After 15 minutes of frantic knocking and hollering, a Madison Square Garden janitor heard the commotion and freed him. Robson later reflected, "I could have been trapped in there for hours. Heck, I could have died in there and not a soul would have known where to find me. The broadcast that night got off to a rocky start."
A Legacy of Admiration
Throughout his travels with Robson, Greg Douglas notes that not a day went by without Robson being recognized by an adoring public. From early years covering baseball's Mounties at Capilano Stadium to a recent visit to Thunderbird Stadium on the UBC campus, Robson's presence always drew attention. After a mid-morning medical appointment, Robson and Douglas drove through the university grounds, where they encountered a young man finishing a workout on the football field.
The young man stopped and stared at Robson, whispering, "Is that who I think it is?" This moment was so typical in the life of Jim Robson—a life that touched so many with kindness, professionalism, and an unwavering dedication to his craft.
Greg Douglas, a broadcaster and journalist in Vancouver media for over 60 years, has served as the Vancouver Canucks Public Relations Director, a sports radio host, and a longtime columnist for The Vancouver Sun. He is also a member of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, honoring his contributions to sports journalism and his deep connection to figures like Jim Robson.
