Canadian sports broadcaster
This article is about the sports broadcaster. For his father, the hockey player, see
Dick Irvin
.
Dick Irvin Jr.
|
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Born
| James Dickinson Irvin
(
1932-03-04
)
March 4, 1932
(age 92)
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Nationality
| Canadian
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Occupation(s)
| Sports broadcaster and author
|
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Dick Irvin Jr.
(or
III
),
CM
(born March 4, 1932) is a
Canadian
retired sports broadcaster and author. In 1988, the
Hockey Hall of Fame
presented him with the
Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
, for his contributions to hockey broadcasting.
[1]
In 2004, he was inducted into the
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame.
[2]
Broadcasting career
[
edit
]
Dick Irvin is a graduate of
McGill University
in
Montreal
, Quebec, where he obtained a
Bachelor of Commerce
degree from what is now the
Desautels Faculty of Management
. While attending university from 1951 to 1953, Irvin played for the
varsity hockey team
and worked part-time as an assistant to the equipment manager of the
Montreal Canadiens
, the team his father coached at the time.
After several years in commerce, he turned to sports broadcasting, first as a media liaison for the Canadiens and then, starting in 1966, as a colour commentator on their radio and television broadcasts, alongside play-by-play announcer
Danny Gallivan
. Starting in 1980, former Red Wings and Canadiens player
Mickey Redmond
joined the pair.
[3]
[4]
From the late 1970s through the early 1980s, he acted as both the colour commentator and studio host for
Hockey Night in Canada
(HNIC) telecasts from Montreal. This meant that he missed the beginnings and ends of periods as he moved from ice level to the broadcast booth and back.
Gallivan often playfully addressed him as "Richard", even though his used name is a diminutive of Dickinson. After Gallivan's retirement in 1984, Irvin worked as the play-by-play announcer for Montreal regional games, as a secondary colour commentator, a "third man" in the broadcast booth, or even as a studio host in Montreal for national games. He also provided radio play-by-play commentary for Canadiens' games that were not on
HNIC
from 1976 until 1997 and was the radio play-by-play announcer for the
Montreal Alouettes
of the
Canadian Football League
for eight seasons.
[5]
At his retirement, he was the longest-serving member of
CBC Television
's
Hockey Night in Canada
, with a broadcasting career spanning from 1966 to 1999.
[6]
Though retired, Irvin still contributes yearly to the annual "Hockey Day in Canada" broadcast, along with other occasional appearances, including Canadiens retirement ceremonies. For example, he hosted the closing ceremony at
Montreal Forum
along with long-time French-language broadcaster
Richard Garneau
on March 11, 1996, after the game against the
Dallas Stars
, introducing many of the former Canadiens participating in the event to pass the torch. Then, he was part of CBC's broadcast crew of the first
Heritage Classic
game from
Commonwealth Stadium
in
Edmonton
on November 22, 2003, as the festivities included a game between Canadiens and
Edmonton Oilers
alumni teams.
[7]
Finally, on December 4, 2009, he and Garneau co-hosted the
Montreal Canadiens centennial
pre-game ceremony
together, introducing many of the former Canadiens participating in the event as they arrived onto the ice.
[8]
[9]
The duo also co-hosted Canadiens' player jersey retirement ceremonies during the
Montreal Canadiens centennial
campaign.
Irvin is a fount of hockey knowledge, having spent a lifetime in the game. His record for longevity with
Hockey Night in Canada
has since been surpassed by
Bob Cole
. Irvin was also the sports director of
CFCF
radio and
CFCF-TV
, a
CTV
affiliate in Montreal.
[2]
Honours
[
edit
]
In 2013, he was appointed a Member of the
Order of Canada
"for his contributions to hockey as a beloved broadcaster and author, as well as for his charitable activities, to be awarded on May 7, 2014."
[10]
[11]
[12]
Books
[
edit
]
Irvin wrote six books during his broadcasting career and one after his retirement. These books are
Now Back to You, Dick
(1988),
The Habs
(1991),
Behind the Bench
(1993),
In the Crease
(1995),
Tough Calls
(1997) and
My 26 Stanley Cups
(2001).
[2]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Although known as Dick Irvin Jr., he is the third generation to be named
James Dickinson Irvin
, after his father and grandfather.
[13]
Irvin's father, known as
Dick Irvin Sr.
, was a noted NHL player and coach. During his broadcasting career (which only started in earnest long after his father had died) his
naming suffix
was usually omitted.
Irvin has two children named Doug and Nancy. His wife, Wilma, died in 2003.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Foster Hewitt Memorial Award Winners"
.
Hockey Hall of Fame
. Retrieved
6 February
2018
.
- ^
a
b
c
McCreath, Ross (November 2004).
"James Dickinson "Dick" Irvin (1932-)"
.
History of Canadian Broadcasting?Personalities
. Canadian Communications Foundation
. Retrieved
February 6,
2018
.
- ^
Romanuk, Paul.
"Remembering the time I met my hero, Danny Gallivan"
.
www.sportsnet.ca
. Retrieved
2023-07-28
.
- ^
Hackel, Stu (2008-04-13).
"The Morning Skate: Lunch With a Legend"
.
Slap Shot
. Retrieved
2023-07-28
.
- ^
Zukerman, Earl; McCreath, Ross.
"McGill hockey grad Dick Irvin to receive Order of Canada"
.
McGill Athletics
. Retrieved
2 June
2024
.
- ^
Switzer, Tim (April 6, 2017).
"For 33 seasons, broadcasting legend Dick Irvin Jr. brought colour to Hockey Night in Canada"
.
- ^
Houston, William (2003-11-20).
"Gretzky sends out mixed signals about today's style of hockey"
.
The Globe and Mail
. Retrieved
2023-07-28
.
- ^
Cowan, Stu (March 3, 2022).
"Catching up with Dick Irvin as he celebrates his 90th birthday"
.
- ^
Hackel, Stu (2009-12-04).
"The Morning Skate: Habs Anniversary Party Ends Tonight"
.
Slap Shot
. Retrieved
2023-07-28
.
- ^
"Governor General Announces 90 New Appointments to the Order of Canada"
. December 30, 2013. Archived from
the original
on August 15, 2021
. Retrieved
April 13,
2021
.
- ^
"Broadcaster Dick Irvin among latest honoured by Order of Canada"
.
Montreal
. 2013-12-31
. Retrieved
2023-07-28
.
- ^
Cowan, Stu (May 7, 2014).
"Broadcasting legend Dick Irvin receives his Order of Canada"
.
- ^
Smith, Maurice
(May 17, 1957).
"Player Senior Hockey in Winnipeg at 12, Might Have Been Sprint Ace"
.
Montreal Gazette
. p. 26
. Retrieved
February 6,
2018
.
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