Dick Irvin, Jr.

where he called Rogie a junior B goaltender.

And I saw that on a Dick Irvin show right before a game in black and white.

And I remember it vividly, or at least I think I remember it vividly.

I mean, I'm seven years old, I guess, at the time when that happens, maybe six.

I, The one thing when I think way back as a youngster, and I'm certainly older than you, but I, you know, I remember Foster Hewitt on the radio and then ultimately on TV.

Danny Gallivan, you know, Dick Irvin.

There were these broadcast names, but not just the name, Kenny, the voice.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that has got to capture.

Well, I appreciate it, Tom.

And just last week, I listened to a tremendous podcast.

John Shannon, the longtime producer of Hockey Night in Canada, had Dick Irvin on his podcast last week.

And I think Mr. Irvin's 93 or 94 years old.

And my dad picked it behind the visiting net specifically because he's like, the Habs are coming this way two periods a game.

And I remember on the other side, Dick Irvin's wife had in the balcony on the opposite side because I would go there so young that sometimes my dad's like, I got nobody to watch these kids.

And he'd take my brother and we'd sit there with Mrs. Irving.

And it was just all these weird little things that are flashbacks for me.

job.

And I am listening to the pregame show.

And Dick Irvin is, you know, Dick could be high-pitched, right? He had a high-pitched voice.

It went even higher when he was describing what was going on on the ice.

Because the sheer drama was too vast for earthly language to contain.

There was Dick Irvin with his quiet, dignified authority, Dave Hodge at the desk, and Ron MacLean leaning into the camera with that fireside gentleness, speaking to us not as a focus group, but as lifelong friends gathered on the back deck over a cup of tea.

Awe, wonder, kinship.

The ledger keepers and pollsters would later try to reduce it all to cold numbers.

Have a great day, everybody, and don't forget, never open a can of beans you can't finish eating.

Good night, Dick.

So if you wanna join me for a while Just grab your hat and come travel light that's hobo style Maybe tomorrow I'll wanna settle down Until tomorrow I'll just keep movin' on

Campbell versus Gallo, where all your dreams come true.

Yes, that's fair.

In fact, he showed up, Johnny Rodgers, I don't know if there's any photos of him, archive photos of him, but there was a sports celebrity dinner that used to be held.

I think Dick Irvin organized it every year right through the '70s and '80s.

And, uh, he showed up the ...