Saturday night marks the end of the NHL's 2018-19 regular season, and along with it the final game for longtime broadcaster Bob Cole.
Nearly 50 years after Cole called his first NHL game, the 85-year-old will do play-by-play for the regular-season finale between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada, closing out perhaps the most distinguished career in Canadian sports broadcasting history.
When someone of Cole's stature calls it a day, the rest of the world reacts. And that's exactly what happened, as hockey personalities took to social media to offer their congratulations to a voice that helped shape hockey fandom in Canada.
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The tributes began well ahead of Saturday's contest, with a who's who of hockey media sharing their stories on how Cole impacted their love of the game.
Oh baby! What a career!
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 6, 2019
Bob Cole will call the final play-by-play of his half-century career tonight.
His first NHL call was April 24, 1969, when Jean Beliveau scored his only career OT goal to put Montreal into the #StanleyCup Final. Story: https://t.co/LDshHA7P7t #HockeyNight pic.twitter.com/RCO7zC7ge4
As Bob Cole prepares for his final broadcast tonight in Montreal after 50 years in this business I am so grateful for having known him & gotten to work with him on Hockey Night in Canada. That voice will forever be hockey. And his stories legendary. Thanks for the memories Bob! pic.twitter.com/727S2VMq8T
— Christine Simpson (@SNChrisSimpson) April 6, 2019
Bob Cole is such a big part of our DNA as Canadians. Every street hockey game in Canada has a Bob Cole play by play voice humming in the minds of every kid. What does hockey sound like ? It sounds like Bob Cole. https://t.co/8OxMgALWQ5
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 6, 2019
The one year anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy, Roy Pejcinovski being drafted in the OHL draft and Bob Cole calling his last game. A lot of tears will be shed tomorrow in our hockey communities. It will be an emotional day indeed. 💚💛#HumboldtStrong #RP74 #OhBaby
— Gerry Dee (@gerrydee) April 5, 2019
Not all hockey legends wear skates. Bob Cole's magical pipes are a national treasure & provided the narrative for sport we all love on Sat nights for 50 yrs. Tonite he'll put meaning in otherwise meaningless gm, calling his final gm as #habs host #leafs. Thank you Bob. Oh baby! pic.twitter.com/noAfjk5c3g
— Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) April 6, 2019
Traveling with Bob Cole is such a treat. Over dark rum, he'll rave about Brad Gushue, Sinatra, and his Yankees.
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) April 5, 2019
So pennant race 2015: run into Bob, wearing... a Blue Jays hat. His face fell. Busted. I questioned his Yankee fandom all night. He was pissed, but took it. The best.
Not cheering from the press box here but it wouldn't break my heart if #NYR beat #CBJ tonight. #Habs still breathing tomorrow for Game 82 vs #Leafs would be an electrifying night at the Bell Centre & give Bob Cole a compelling, meaningful @hockeynight game to call as his finale pic.twitter.com/DYS4F5R4bb
— Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) April 5, 2019
I still remember having to watching an entire season of HNIC with Bob Cole's call of Vernon stopping Smyl's breakaway as part of the intro pic.twitter.com/rR0OARbSOc
— Jason Brough (@JasonBroughTSN) April 6, 2019
NEW VIDEO: My favourite Bob Cole calls. https://t.co/2CVRf0ZrjN
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) April 6, 2019
My two fave Bob Cole moments. Driving from LA to ANA during playoffs with him and @JSportsnet learning all kinds of things. Oh my. And this fab 4some last summer in Halifax alongside Bob, Jack Armstrong and @JSportsnet What a day that was! Congrats Bob!! pic.twitter.com/qhwGo28bF2
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) April 5, 2019
Congratulations to Bob Cole on an astounding 50 year career. If it was up to me, it wouldn’t be ending tonight. What a treat getting to hear his call live at a game earlier this season.#BobCole #OhBaby #OhBabyForSure pic.twitter.com/iFrHBOvGY4
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) April 6, 2019
Some of the players who are taking part in Cole's final game made a point to say hello to the veteran broadcaster prior to puck drop. The ones who couldn't congratulate Cole in person took to Twitter to do so.
Morgan Rielly swings by to thank Bob Cole ahead of his last call. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/FjoEoHRJGi
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) April 6, 2019
Before leaving the rink this morning, John Tavares made sure he shook Mr. Bob Cole’s hand and grabbed a photo pic.twitter.com/kxWkrpOiAQ
— Kyle Bukauskas (@SNkylebukauskas) April 6, 2019
Tavares on Bob Cole: “You always identify HNIC with his voice. Especially around playoff time. He just really drew people into the game and made it really special to watch and dream about playing in the NHL one day. A legend, an icon."
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) April 6, 2019
Congratulations to the infamous Bob Cole tonight on his last game!! I was fortunate enough to grow up listening to him on @hockeynight as a kid! His call on my dad’s OT goal in ‘93 will forever be cherished in our household! Thanks for the memories and the class Mr. Cole! #legend
— Nick Foligno (@NickFoligno) April 6, 2019
Cole, a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and a member of the Order of Canada, merits a fitting send-off, and that's exactly what he got.
Bob Cole has a way of taking every moment and making it magical.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2019
Tonight, some of the biggest names in hockey pay tribute to one of the best to ever call the game.
Thank you, Bob. 🙏 #HockeyNight pic.twitter.com/9F5TY8jent
From April 24, 1969, to April 6, 2019, Cole was the voice of hockey in Canada. His legacy will carry on, long after his headset has been hung up for the final time.