Maple Leafs announcer Joe Bowen to be honoured with ‘Holy Mackinaw Night’
Global News
The NHL says it's honouring Leafs announcer Joe Bowen with a special tribute night on Tuesday when the team faces the Chicago Blackhawks, the same matchup as his first night.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the Chicago Blackhawks, the voice of the Buds will be honoured in a special celebration of his legendary career.
Joe Bowen, who has called more than 3,000 games for the Leafs, is set to retire after the 2025-26 season and the NHL says it plans to honour him with a celebration at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.
Dubbed “Holy Mackinaw Night” after his well-known catchphrase, the event will include a ceremonial puck drop with Bowen and his family and special in-game moments commemorating his 44 years with the team.
“Over the many years I have become huge fans of a number of sports teams: the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, the Toronto Argos and the Green Bay Packers, of which I am an Owner,” Bowen said in a news release.
“But there is only one team that I love, and that has always been the Toronto Maple Leafs. First as a fan and fortunately over the last 44 years as a broadcaster. December 16’s tribute will be as big a night as the arrival of my four sons and three grandchildren.”
Bowen first began his play-by-play career in the 1982-83 season, with his first game coincidentally being against the Blackhawks.
“Everybody has a dream,” Bowen told Global News in October. “I knew I wanted to do play-by-play. I’m living proof that sometimes if you have a dream, they come true.”
But that dream started with an unexpected twist. He got into a “profanity-laced conversation” when he thought a friend was pulling his leg. It turned out it was Jen Branson asking him for an interview, which instead turned into Branson offering him the job without an audition.
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