Howie Meeker, Hockey Star and Colorful Broadcaster, Dies at 97
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NY Times Hockey
Meeker was known for his candid remarks about players and the games. He came to television after a career as an All-Star for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Howie Meeker, who played on four Stanley Cup championship teams with the Toronto Maple Leafs and went on to become a Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster for his innovative and colorful commentary, mostly with the hugely popular “Hockey Night in Canada” telecasts of the 1970s and ’80s, died on Sunday at a hospital in Nanaimo, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island.
Meeker, at 5 feet 9 inches and 165 pounds or so, held his own against bigger players.
In his commentary for the CBC network during intermissions at N.H.L. “Hockey Night” games, Meeker was a pioneer in using a telestrator to diagram the action on instant replay segments.
Meeker was a member of the Canadian Parliament during his last years playing for the Leafs and a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Canada, running an annual golf tournament in British Columbia to raise funds for it. He was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2010 for his contributions to hockey.
He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 for his broadcast work during some 30 years with CBC, Canada’s TSN and NBC.
Meeker, at 5 feet 9 inches and 165 pounds or so, held his own against bigger players.
In his commentary for the CBC network during intermissions at N.H.L. “Hockey Night” games, Meeker was a pioneer in using a telestrator to diagram the action on instant replay segments.
Meeker was a member of the Canadian Parliament during his last years playing for the Leafs and a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Canada, running an annual golf tournament in British Columbia to raise funds for it. He was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2010 for his contributions to hockey.
He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 for his broadcast work during some 30 years with CBC, Canada’s TSN and NBC.