The End of an Era: Goodbye, Jim Hughson

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.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?