Something awful has happened in Canuck land. Our beloved commentator, Jim Hughson, will no longer be calling our games after the end of this season. He has signed a 6 year contract with CBC and will no longer be with Sportsnet Pacific. Sportsnet Pacific is the station that broadcasts the majority of Canucks games.
After this season, he will be relocating to Toronto and will be calling most of Hockey Night in Canada's early games as well as the CBC televised Toronto Blue Jays games. I will also assume that when the Olympics come to town in 2010, he will be calling all the big hockey games there as well. Not to mention a lot of the big events during the Summer Olympics.
You may know Hughson from the NHL video game series. You may know him from the few CBC games that he does call from time to time. Or you may not know him at all. If you don't know him, you soon will. And you will soon see why we are all so broken up about it.
For many years now, he has followed the team and spoiled us with his superb commentating and on the spot calls. He is so smooth when he talks, with very minimal mistakes. On games of ours that he isn't able to commentate (PPV and some HNIC games) we see how lucky we really have it. I'm not knocking other play-by-play announcers, it's difficult to top the best.
We have watched him grow and become absolutely all he can be, in what has seemed like only a couple years. His little Hughsonisms (as I like to call them) make the game that much better. A very emotional burst when the goalie makes a fabulous save "GREAT SAVE LUONGO!" or when the crowd boos the referees for a non call "The fans call a penalty, the referees don't!" Even in slow games, he always seems to keep it exciting.
You are probably thinking, what a whiner. I honestly don't blame you. I guess I am whining a little bit but it just goes to show that talent that this guy has. Having a play-by-play commentator that is fluently able to keep up with the tempo of play and do it with such finesse, really ups the quality of viewing. And the biggest of sports fans have to agree. In the words of one of my favorite comedians, "Once you've had first class, you can't go back."
Goodbye and good luck, Jim Hughson±we will miss you.
Comments (4) Add a comment »
from 2 months ago
Sad to see Jim Hughson leaving indeed although it looked inevitable when he partially moved to CBC a couple years back to do the late game on the Saturday double-headers.
Your assumption is inccorect however.As of now, you WON'T hear him during the Olympics. The broadcast rights for 2010 belong to CTV and Rogers, not CBC. It's too bad that the current voice of Vancouver hockey won't be calling any games in 2010.
from 2 months ago
Hmm, thanks for the info. That makes me wonder if his contract with CBC is exlusive or if he can do work with other networks, like he has been doing with RSN and CBC now. I still hope to hear him during the medal hockey games of the Olympics.
from about 1 month ago
I would take John Shorthouse over him any day. I can't stand his comments...
from about 1 month ago
Jim Hughson was the best. I remember during the pre-season they had Don Taylor do some commentary. God, he sucked. He was more boring than the Paris Hilton sex tape. I hoped Shorty would fill in the vacated spot but from what I hear, they are bringing in a guy that does the Edmonton games. He did a guest spot once and he wasn't that great either. Maybe like a wife that nags all the time, we'll get used to the new guy but HNIC is going to get pretty good next season.
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