Peter Maher, the longtime radio voice of the Calgary Flames, has died. He was 79.
His death was confirmed by the Flames Thursday morning.
“It is with deep regret and sadness that the Calgary Flames organization acknowledge the passing of Peter Maher, the legendary voice of the Flames,” the club posted on social media.
“For more than three decades, Peter Maher brought Flames hockey into the homes of generations of fans. From the franchise’s early years in Calgary, through the 1989 Stanley Cup championship, and countless memorable moments that followed, Peter’s unmistakable voice became part of the soundtrack of being a Flames fan.”
Maher was the announcer for the Flames from 1980, when the club moved from Atlanta to Calgary, until his retirement in 2014.
He called the club’s Stanley Cup championship win in 1989, their 1986 finals appearance and their improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004, where they lost in seven games to Tampa Bay.
Maher was beloved in Calgary for his signature “Yeah baby!” call. The team’s biggest moments, such as Martin Gelinas’ overtime playoff goal over Detroit in Game 6 of the 2004 NHL playoffs that put Calgary in the finals, saw a triple ”Yeah baby!" but those moments were far and few between.
He was also known for celebrating a Flames victory with the catchphrase, “You can put it in the win column!”
Former Flame Colin Patterson played on the club’s 1989 Stanley Cup winning squad and said Thursday was a sad day.
“It is a tough one,” Patterson said. “Peter Maher was such a great guy, beloved by everybody, like players and fans, management -- whoever you talked to, people loved him.”
Patterson said he had many fond memories of Maher, but one stood out.
“Just in (19)89,” he said. “The ‘Yeah baby -- that really sticks out when we won, the yeah baby, yeah baby.”
Longtime FAN 960 colleague Pat Steinberg, who worked with Maher for many years on Flames broadcasts, said on social media “Peter was an incredible broadcaster, the best at his craft, and the most prepared and hardworking person I’ve been around.Pete was also just a great man. A rockstar who only carried himself like a teammate, friend, and mentor.
“Rest easy, Pete. What an honour to know you.”
In 2014, at his retirement press conference, Kelly Kirsch, the program director for Sportsnet 960, which broadcast Flames games on radio until it was shut down last month, said, “Peter treated me with great respect as he did all sportscasters. He took the time and treated everybody with respect.”
Kirsch said that Maher was heavily involved in charity events: “He emceed just about everything, golf tournaments, whether it was playing in it, seeing it, talking about it.”
He added that Maher was an idol to many young broadcasters who sent him their tapes for his feedback.
Maher was inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 as a media inductee. The same year, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding work as an NHL broadcaster.
He was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Following his retirement in 2014, he was honoured by the Flames with the Peter Maher Radio Broadcast Booth in the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the Peter Maher Award, which is presented by local media to the Flames player best demonstrates the virtues of Peter.
“Sincerity, integrity, dedication and respect,” said Eric Francis, a longtime media colleague of Maher’s.
“Those are the four key words,” he added. “It was symbolic of the fact that Peter was beloved by all his brethren inside the room and all of the media members, so it was very appropriate that we had an award in his name.”
Hearing about the passing of Peter Maher was a tough blow to many Calgarians.
“I grew up with Peter Maher,” said one fan. “I used to listen to the radio all of the time as a kid, going to bed, so it’s a huge blow to the Calgary community and condolences to his family.”
Another fan said the news was “super sad, just hearing him on the air for a long time growing up in Calgary. Not much (else) to say except thoughts to his family.”
Maher also called games for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and six NHL all-star games.
Prior to joining the Flames, Maher called games for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1977 to 1980.
Maher was born in Campbellton, N.B., on Nov. 11, 1946.
His first broadcast was at age 14, when he announced the starting lineups for the Campbellton softball league.
The Flames extended their condolences to Maher’s family, friends, former colleagues and the fans.
Family statement
Thursday afternoon, the Flames posted a statement from Maher’s family.
“To so many people, Peter was the longtime voice of the Calgary Flames. To us, he was simply Dad.
“He was incredibly proud of his career and the people he met along the way, but his greatest pride was always his family.
“We are heartbroken by his passing and grateful for the love, friendship and support he received throughout his life.
“We will share more information regarding arrangements in the coming days.”
With files from CTV News’ Michael Franklin and Glenn Campbell
