The classic B次元官网网址淗ockey Night in CanadaB次元官网网址� theme song resounded through a St. JohnB次元官网网址檚, N.L., church Friday where friends, family and colleagues gathered to remember Bob Cole, the legendary sportscaster who brought some of the sportB次元官网网址檚 most important games to living rooms across the country.

Ron MacLean and former NHL goalie Glenn Healy, who both worked alongside Cole on B次元官网网址淗ockey Night in Canada,B次元官网网址� were among the mourners assembled in St. ThomasB次元官网网址� Anglican Church to pay tribute to Cole.

B次元官网网址淲e all remember the voice, but I remember the gleam in his eye,B次元官网网址� MacLean told reporters outside the navy-blue clapboard church in downtown St. JohnB次元官网网址檚. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no one that doesnB次元官网网址檛 recognize that look that he had, which was half mischief and half master of a craft.B次元官网网址�

During his eulogy, MacLean said there was no better word to describe Cole than B次元官网网址済rit.B次元官网网址� Cole died April 24 at the age of 90.

A great celebration of life for Mr. Bob Cole. B次元官网网址淣othing is ever a big dealB次元官网网址� 鉂わ笍

B次元官网网址� Cassie Campbell-Pascall (@CassieCampbell)

B次元官网网址淎 good friend is somebody who will always tell you things you donB次元官网网址檛 want to hear, and Bob would always do that,B次元官网网址� MacLean told the mourners assembled in the church. B次元官网网址淭hey will embolden you to become the person you were born to be, and he definitely did that for me. Even to the last Saturday, four days before Bob passed, he says, B次元官网网址榊ouB次元官网网址檙e doing a great job.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

ColeB次元官网网址檚 broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, but he was best known for his play-by-play commentary on B次元官网网址淗ockey Night in Canada.B次元官网网址� With his signature wit, passion and B次元官网网址淥h baby!B次元官网网址� exclamations, Cole was a giant in Canadian broadcasting and one of the most admired voices in hockey.

He called the 1972 Summit Series on radio. On TV, there was the 1976 game in Philadelphia when the Soviet Red Army players left the ice in protest of the Flyers take-no-prisoners tactics. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going home,B次元官网网址� said an incredulous Cole.

He was there for the 2002 Olympic final in Salt Lake City when Canada ended its 50-year Olympic gold-medal drought with a win over the United States in the final.

B次元官网网址淛oe Sakic scores and that makes it 5-2 Canada. Surely thatB次元官网网址檚 got to be it?B次元官网网址� said Cole. He narrated many Stanley Cup finals, including the Edmonton OilersB次元官网网址� first cup win with Wayne Gretzky at the helm.

Cole was a dedicated Newfoundlander, refusing every time his bosses asked to move away to be closer to his work, his daughter Megan Cole has said.

Outside the church on Friday, Healy said Cole was an authentic, beautiful man with a great spirit. He said Cole was B次元官网网址渟imply the bestB次元官网网址� at his job.

B次元官网网址淗e truly cared about the game, about the players, and he cared about the poetry that was on the ice,B次元官网网址� Healy told reporters.

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Greg Millen, also a former NHL goalie who is now part of the Hockey Night in Canada team, said it was an honour to work with Cole, who wasnB次元官网网址檛 shy to offer advice.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 get a lecture every day on the way to the rink: B次元官网网址楴ow, Greg, stay out of the way, itB次元官网网址檚 all about the fans, itB次元官网网址檚 not about us,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Millen recalled outside the church. B次元官网网址淗e loved the fans, he loved the game, and he loved the players in the game. He taught us so much.B次元官网网址�

Cole died in his beloved home city of St. JohnB次元官网网址檚, surrounded by his family.

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press