Donald Earle Clement (March 29, 1929 ? December 12, 1993) was an American ice hockey announcer for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .

Earle was born Donald Earle Clement in Somerville, Massachusetts . He graduated from Dedham High School in Dedham, Massachusetts . ^[1] He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1951 and was a journalist. He graduated from Grahm Junior College in 1954. He began his broadcasting career with WBET in Brockton, Massachusetts and later worked for another Brockton station - WOKW . ^[2] He then moved to WKOX in Framingham, Massachusetts , where he called high school hockey games. ^[1]

In 1967, Earle was chosen from relative obscurity to become WSBK-TV 's announcer for Boston Bruins games. ^{[1] [3]} He called Bruins games during one of the club's most successful periods, which included winning the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals . Due to the team's success and the high number of games aired on WSBK, Earle became a high-profile sportscaster in Boston, however, according to Jack Craig of The Boston Globe , he was also the most criticized. ^[4] In 1971, Earle was loudly booed by Bruins fans while presenting Channel 38's 7th Player Award. ^[5] He was let go by WSBK-TV at the end of the season. ^[6] From 1971 to 1977, Earle served as a second play by play announcer/analyst with the Philadelphia Flyers on WTAF alongside Gene Hart . ^[7]

After his dismissal from the Flyers, Earle worked as a freelance sportscaster, calling games for the Colorado Rockies and the North American Soccer League . He returned to Massachusetts in 1981. ^[8] From 1982 to 1985, he was a sports anchor for WGGB-TV in Springfield, Massachusetts . ^{[9] [10]} Earle spent his later years in Westfield, Massachusetts . He died on December 12, 1993. ^[1]

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Bruins' Fourth Stanley Cup win celebration, with Don Earle interviewing Bruins team members (starting at 1:15 into the video)