Jim Robson
Encyclopedia
Jim Robson was a radio and television broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks
from 1970 to 1999.
His family moved to British Columbia
when he was eight years old and he eventually graduated from Maple Ridge Secondary School
.
radio station
in Port Alberni
. In 1955, Robson started working for CHUB
radio in Nanaimo covering the Mann Cup
lacrosse
finals.
By 1956, Robson found himself in Vancouver covering the BC Lions
football team
, the Vancouver Mounties
baseball
team and the then WHL
Vancouver Canucks hockey
team on CKWX
.
expansion team
in 1970, Robson moved to CKNW
where he was known as the voice of the Canucks for nearly three decades. For the first seven years, he usually worked alone. For road games, he would broadcast the game without a colour commentator
and also provide the pre-game, intermission, and post-game shows. In 1977–78, he began working alongside former BC Lions player and broadcaster Tom Larscheid
. From 1983–84 until 1987–88, his broadcast mate was ex-Canuck Garry Monahan
, before Larscheid returned in 1988–89.
Robson stepped down as the radio voice of the Canucks in 1994, choosing the lighter workload of television. His last radio broadcast
was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals
between the Canucks and New York Rangers
. Robson continued as the Canucks television voice for five additional seasons, working alongside colour commentators Darcy Rota
(1994–95 to 1995–96) and Ryan Walter
(1996–97 to 1998–99). His replacement on radio was Jim Hughson
, who later moved to Rogers Sportsnet, and then to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
. In his final year, Robson split television play-by-play duties with rookie John Shorthouse
, who is now the primary voice of the Canucks on TV and radio.
's Hockey Night in Canada
, covering games primarily from western Canada
. It was for HNIC that he broadcast the Canucks' first NHL game, a 3–1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings
on October 9, 1970. His reputation as one of the top broadcasters in the business became apparent and he was assigned to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975
, and , which involved the Canucks, as they faced off against the New York Islanders
. That year, he called the series when it was at the Nassau Coliseum on the radio with Larscheid. However, when the series was in Vancouver
, he called the games on the CBC with Gary Dornhoefer
and Howie Meeker
.
In addition, he covered the NHL All-Star Games in 1977 (Vancouver
), 1981 (Los Angeles
), and 1983 (Long Island). He left HNIC after the 1984–85 season, but made a couple of national appearances afterward, for CBC in the 1987 playoffs and Global
for the 1988 Smythe Division
Final between the Edmonton Oilers
and Calgary Flames
.
He also covered the Vancouver Canucks on television broadcasts
on BCTV
, CHEK-TV
and VTV
from 1985–86 through 1998–99. From 1987–88 to 1993–94, Robson provided both radio and television play-by-play for the Canucks on simulcasts, alongside colour commentators Monahan and Larscheid.
Nationally, Jim Robson is probably best remembered for his call of Bob Nystrom
's Cup-winning overtime goal for the Islanders in . Locally, his voice is linked to every significant Canucks moment in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, particularly the 1982 and 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs
.
, Jim was involved in the community being in-demand as a guest speaker for numerous fund-raising
dinners and banquets throughout the province of British Columbia
. He served as a Director of the BC Benevolent Hockey Association and the Canucks Alumni.
Jim became inducted to numerous halls of fame, such as the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1992, the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 2002, at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
annual meeting in Vancouver, Jim Robson was inducted to the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame
.
The Broadcast booth in Rogers Arena is named after him.
and maintain a home on Galiano Island
.
-The call at the end of game 6 in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals referring to Trevor Linden
, who was very bloody after taking a high stick, which led to the one of the most famous photos in Vancouver Canucks history, of Linden hugging Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean
, with blood on Linden's jersey.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
from 1970 to 1999.
His family moved to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
when he was eight years old and he eventually graduated from Maple Ridge Secondary School
Maple Ridge Secondary School
Maple Ridge Secondary is a public high school in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, part of School District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.- Academics :...
.
Broadcasting career
Robson started his career at the age of 17 covering senior men's basketball for CJAVCJAV-FM
CJAV-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting from Port Alberni, British Columbia at 93.3 FM and owned by the Jim Pattison Group's Island Radio division.-History:...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Port Alberni
Port Alberni, British Columbia
Port Alberni is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. It is the location of the head offices of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The city has a total population of 17,743, and the census agglomeration area a total of 25,396....
. In 1955, Robson started working for CHUB
CKWV-FM
CKWV-FM is a Canadian radio station located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. It broadcasts on 102.3 FM and is owned by Island Radio, a division of the Jim Pattison Group.-History:...
radio in Nanaimo covering the Mann Cup
Mann Cup
The Mann Cup is the trophy awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada. The championship series is played between the Western Lacrosse Association champion and the Major Series Lacrosse champion...
lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
finals.
By 1956, Robson found himself in Vancouver covering the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
football team
Football team
A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
, the Vancouver Mounties
Vancouver Mounties
The Vancouver Mounties were a high-level minor league baseball club based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Mounties played in the Pacific Coast League from 1956 through 1962 as the relocated Oakland Oaks franchise, and from 1965 through 1969 when the Dallas Rangers moved back to Canada.The...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team and the then WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
Vancouver Canucks hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team on CKWX
CKWX (AM)
CKWX is a 24-hour all-news radio station broadcasting to residents of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, British Columbia...
.
Vancouver Canucks
When the Vancouver Canucks became an NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
in 1970, Robson moved to CKNW
CKNW (AM)
CKNW owned by Corus Entertainment, is the highest-rated talk radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It broadcasts on AM 980.The station's content is based on news and current events...
where he was known as the voice of the Canucks for nearly three decades. For the first seven years, he usually worked alone. For road games, he would broadcast the game without a colour commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
and also provide the pre-game, intermission, and post-game shows. In 1977–78, he began working alongside former BC Lions player and broadcaster Tom Larscheid
Tom Larscheid
Tom Larscheid is a former Vancouver-based radio sports broadcaster and football player. After a career playing college and CFL football, he was the colour commentator for the CFL's BC Lions and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks for many years...
. From 1983–84 until 1987–88, his broadcast mate was ex-Canuck Garry Monahan
Garry Monahan
Garry Michael Monahan is a retired Canadian professional hockey player who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, before Larscheid returned in 1988–89.
Robson stepped down as the radio voice of the Canucks in 1994, choosing the lighter workload of television. His last radio broadcast
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals
1994 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
between the Canucks and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. Robson continued as the Canucks television voice for five additional seasons, working alongside colour commentators Darcy Rota
Darcy Rota
Darcy Irwin Rota is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League...
(1994–95 to 1995–96) and Ryan Walter
Ryan Walter
Ryan William Walter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League...
(1996–97 to 1998–99). His replacement on radio was Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson is a Canadian sportscaster, best known for his play-by-play of professional ice hockey and baseball.-Biography:...
, who later moved to Rogers Sportsnet, and then to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
. In his final year, Robson split television play-by-play duties with rookie John Shorthouse
John Shorthouse
John "Shorty" Shorthouse is a Canadian sports broadcaster, based in Vancouver. He is the lead play-by-play commentator for the Vancouver Canucks on the television station Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and the "Team 1040" when Vancouver games are not broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific.Shorthouse...
, who is now the primary voice of the Canucks on TV and radio.
National television
Jim Robson also did additional work for CBCCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
, covering games primarily from western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
. It was for HNIC that he broadcast the Canucks' first NHL game, a 3–1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on October 9, 1970. His reputation as one of the top broadcasters in the business became apparent and he was assigned to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975
1975 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1975 Stanley Cup Final championship series was played by the Buffalo Sabres, making their first Finals appearance and the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers would win the best-of-seven series four games to two. This was the first Final to have two non-"Original Six" teams since...
, and , which involved the Canucks, as they faced off against the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. That year, he called the series when it was at the Nassau Coliseum on the radio with Larscheid. However, when the series was in Vancouver
Pacific Coliseum
Pacific Coliseum is an indoor arena, at Hastings Park, in Vancouver, British Columbia.Completed in 1968, at the former site of the Pacific National Exhibition, the arena currently holds 16,281, for ice hockey, though capacity at its opening was 15,713....
, he called the games on the CBC with Gary Dornhoefer
Gary Dornhoefer
Gerhardt Otto Dornhofer , better known as Gary Dornhoefer, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, known for winning two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League in 1973-74, and 1974-75....
and Howie Meeker
Howie Meeker
Howard William Meeker, C.M. is a former right winger in the National Hockey League, youth coach and educator in ice hockey and television sports announcer as well as a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament...
.
In addition, he covered the NHL All-Star Games in 1977 (Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
), 1981 (Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
), and 1983 (Long Island). He left HNIC after the 1984–85 season, but made a couple of national appearances afterward, for CBC in the 1987 playoffs and Global
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
for the 1988 Smythe Division
Smythe Division
The NHL's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Conn Smythe. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Northwest Division and NHL's Pacific Division....
Final between the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
.
He also covered the Vancouver Canucks on television broadcasts
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
on BCTV
CHAN-TV
CHAN-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, broadcasting over-the-air on digital channel 22, and available via cable providers in the area on channel 11. Owned by Shaw Communications as a part of its Shaw Media division, it is the West Coast flagship station of the...
, CHEK-TV
CHEK-TV
CHEK-DT, channel 6.1, is a television station based in Victoria, British Columbia and broadcasting to all of southwestern BC...
and VTV
CIVT-TV
CIVT-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Bell Media, it is part of the CTV Television Network...
from 1985–86 through 1998–99. From 1987–88 to 1993–94, Robson provided both radio and television play-by-play for the Canucks on simulcasts, alongside colour commentators Monahan and Larscheid.
Nationally, Jim Robson is probably best remembered for his call of Bob Nystrom
Bob Nyström
Robert Thore Nystrom is a retired professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League from 1972 to 1986. He is best remembered as having scored the winning goal at the 7:11 mark of overtime to give the New York Islanders the 1980 Stanley Cup...
's Cup-winning overtime goal for the Islanders in . Locally, his voice is linked to every significant Canucks moment in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, particularly the 1982 and 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs
1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the...
.
Achievements
Off-the-airOff-the-air
In telecommunication, the term off-air or off-the-air has the following meanings:# In radio communications systems, pertaining to a radio station or television station that is completely shut down, i.e. that is not transmitting any signal, not even an un-modulated carrier wave...
, Jim was involved in the community being in-demand as a guest speaker for numerous fund-raising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
dinners and banquets throughout the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He served as a Director of the BC Benevolent Hockey Association and the Canucks Alumni.
Jim became inducted to numerous halls of fame, such as the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1992, the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 2002, at the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
annual meeting in Vancouver, Jim Robson was inducted to the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame
Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
The Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, started in 1982, recognizes Canadians in broadcasting or entertainment related industries who have "achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint."...
.
The Broadcast booth in Rogers Arena is named after him.
Personal
Jim and his wife Bea currently reside near Vancouver's Kitsilano BeachKitsilano Beach
Kitsilano Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, especially in the warm summer months. Located at the north edge of the Kitsilano neighbourhood, the beach faces out onto Burrard Inlet...
and maintain a home on Galiano Island
Galiano Island
Galiano Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the west side of the Strait of Georgia, it is 27.5 km long, 6 km at its widest point, and 1.6 km across at its narrowest point and is separated...
.
Memorable calls
He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches.-The call at the end of game 6 in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals referring to Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden
Trevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
, who was very bloody after taking a high stick, which led to the one of the most famous photos in Vancouver Canucks history, of Linden hugging Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean
Kirk McLean
Kirk Alan McLean is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
, with blood on Linden's jersey.