Canadian sportscaster (born 1960)
Ronald Joseph Corbett MacLean
(born April 12, 1960)
[1]
[2]
is a Canadian sportscaster for the
CBC
and
Rogers Media
, best known as the host of
Hockey Night in Canada
from 1986 to 2014 and again since 2016, and is also a hockey referee.
Early life and education
[
edit
]
MacLean was born in
Zweibrucken
,
West Germany
, at the NATO Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Number 3 Fighter Wing Zweibrucken, West Germany on April 12, 1960.
[2]
His father was stationed at the NATO RCAF Number 1 Air Division Headquarters, Chateau de Mercy, Metz, France where he was employed in the Chateau as a NCO Communications Operator (Crypto Centre).
Ron MacLean Sr., of
Sydney, Nova Scotia
, married in July 1959 at 1 Air Division Metz, a member of the RCAF, Sarah "Lila" MacDonald, from
Iona, Nova Scotia
. In 1956-57 Ron MacLean Sr. worked as a communications operator at RCAF Station Edmonton, while MacDonald was an airwoman/clerk stationed at
RCAF Station Namao
, just outside Edmonton.
[2]
Fourteen months after MacLean's birth, the family moved back to Canada, initially settling in
Chester, Nova Scotia
. MacLean was four years old when his dad was stationed in
Whitehorse
,
Yukon
, with the Royal Canadian Air Force before relocating eventually in
Sylvan Lake
,
Alberta
.
[3]
He attended high school in
Red Deer, Alberta
, where he met his future wife Cari.
[4]
After high school, MacLean was prepared to attend the
University of Alberta
until he was asked to fill in for a sick friend at
CKRD-FM
, which led to a job at
CKRD-TV
.
[5]
Although he never attended university, MacLean received an honorary degree from the
University of Alberta
in 2019.
[6]
Career
[
edit
]
Hockey Night in Canada
[
edit
]
MacLean (right) with
Don Cherry
at the
2002 Winter Olympics
in
Salt Lake City, Utah
MacLean has worked on
Hockey Night in Canada
since
1986?87
. He began hosting telecasts in
Calgary
and
Toronto
when
Dave Hodge
moved to
Vancouver
. Hodge was later suspended, and eventually quit, protesting a CBC programming decision on-air. He worked his first Stanley Cup Finals that spring and has been the early game host ever since. Part of his duties included hosting
Coach's Corner
with
Don Cherry
.
Contract negotiations with
CBC Sports
Executive Director
Nancy Lee
and the president of English television had hit a standstill in the
2001?02 NHL season
. MacLean threatened to leave CBC on the advice of his agent
Don Meehan
.
[7]
That made headlines across Canada and following a huge
public outcry
, the CBC quickly gave in to his demands.
[8]
[9]
MacLean in 2013 at a CBC Live event
In addition to hosting
HNIC
, he has been a part of the CBC's
Olympics
coverage since 1988. He took over as chief anchor following the departure of
Brian Williams
to
CTV
/
TSN
. MacLean was the main sportscaster and host for the
2008 Summer Olympic Games
in
Beijing
until his mother died, causing him to hand over duties to
Scott Russell
.
[10]
In 1993, MacLean served as an ice level reporter for
NBC Sports
' coverage of the
NHL All-Star Game
in
Montreal
. MacLean has also hosted CBC's coverage of the
Queen's Plate
.
[11]
Beginning with the
2014?15 NHL season
, MacLean was hired by
Rogers Media
when the company
acquired the national rights to the NHL
. MacLean was removed from the host position of
Hockey Night in Canada
, but retained his role as host of
Coach's Corner
, and became an on-location host for the new, travelling
Hometown Hockey
broadcasts introduced that season. On June 27, 2016, Rogers announced that MacLean would be reinstated as host of the early games on
Hockey Night
beginning in the upcoming season, replacing
George Stroumboulopoulos
.
[12]
[13]
On November 9, 2019, MacLean's co-host Don Cherry made remarks during
Coach's Corner
suggesting that Canadian immigrants benefit from the sacrifices of veterans and do not wear
remembrance poppies
.
[14]
MacLean, who nodded during Cherry's rant and flashed a thumbs-up sign at the end of Saturday's segment, apologized the following day for staying silent during Cherry's remarks.
[15]
The following day, Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced that Cherry had been fired: "Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night's broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down."
[16]
The following day, Cherry expressed his disappointment over MacLean's apology.
[17]
[18]
On November 16, 2019, MacLean addressed and reflected on the incident during
Hockey Night in Canada
, the first without Cherry, also announcing the end of
Coach's Corner
.
[19]
[20]
Awards and honours
[
edit
]
MacLean has won eight
Gemini Awards
for his work with CBC.
[21]
His first was in 1992 for Best Sports Broadcaster; he also won the Best Sports Broadcaster award in 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2001. He won Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast in 2004 and again in 2006. In 1996, he was inducted into the
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame
. In 2015, he was inducted into the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame. In 2016, MacLean, along with his Coach's Corner co-host Don Cherry, received a star on
Canada's Walk of Fame
.
[22]
Hockey Canada
[
edit
]
In addition to his work at the CBC, MacLean is a former Level 5
referee
with
Hockey Canada
. He has refereed in junior, minor pro, senior, and university leagues across Canada, mostly in the
Southern Ontario
region. He served as a referee in the September 29, 2006, NHL preseason matchup of the
Buffalo Sabres
and the
Pittsburgh Penguins
,
[23]
calling one penalty in the final minute of the game.
Personal life
[
edit
]
MacLean was named Honorary Colonel of the 1 Air Movements Squadron at
17 Wing Winnipeg
of the
Canadian Forces
'
Air Command
.
[24]
On June 3, 2010, MacLean helped to rescue a man trying to take his own life, by jumping into the
Delaware River
in
Philadelphia
.
[25]
In 2010, MacLean and his
1986 Ford Mustang
were profiled by
The Globe and Mail
.
[26]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Ron MacLean, Kirstie McLellan Day (2011).
Cornered: Hijinks, Highlights, Late Nights and Insights
. Harper Collins.
ISBN
9781554689743
.
ROnald Joseph corbett maclean.
- ^
a
b
c
"Hockey broadcaster's roots remembered"
.
www.capebretonpost.com
. Archived from
the original
on November 18, 2015.
- ^
"Whitehorse Daily Star: Hometown Hockey visit a homecoming for host"
.
Whitehorse Daily Star
.
- ^
Nicholas Hune-Brown (2013).
"Minutes from Death: How Ron MacLean's Wife Cari Came Back From the Brink"
.
readersdigest.ca
. Retrieved
February 27,
2020
.
- ^
"Hockey Night with Ron MacLean"
.
insidehalton.com
. February 4, 2006
. Retrieved
February 27,
2020
.
- ^
Bench, Allison (November 19, 2019).
"Ron MacLean in Edmonton for honorary degree from U of A in midst of Cherry controversy"
.
globalnews.ca
. Retrieved
February 27,
2020
.
- ^
"Playing the Game (Page 3)"
. Archived from
the original
on June 11, 2011
. Retrieved
September 11,
2017
.
- ^
Macleancbc1002a
- ^
caaws.ca/e/leadership/article
Archived
July 20, 2012, at
archive.today
- ^
olympics-ron-maclean
- ^
"2008 Queen's Plate Entries"
. Horse-races.net
. Retrieved
January 19,
2013
.
- ^
"Ron MacLean to host Hockey Night in Canada, with David Amber"
.
Sportsnet.ca
. Retrieved
June 27,
2016
.
- ^
"Ron MacLean to replace Strombo on Hockey Night in Canada: Feschuk"
.
Toronto Star
. June 19, 2016
. Retrieved
June 20,
2016
.
- ^
"
'You people': Don Cherry under fire for claiming new immigrants don't wear Remembrance Day poppies"
. The Canadian Press. November 10, 2019
. Retrieved
November 10,
2019
.
- ^
"Ron MacLean apologizes for not challenging Don Cherry's 'hurtful and prejudiced' comments"
.
Global News
. Retrieved
November 12,
2019
.
- ^
"Don Cherry fired after scolding immigrants who don't wear poppies"
.
CTV News
. November 11, 2019
. Retrieved
November 11,
2019
.
- ^
"
'I don't regret a thing': Don Cherry speaks out on his firing and Ron MacLean | CTV News"
.
www.ctvnews.ca
. November 11, 2019
. Retrieved
November 12,
2019
.
- ^
"
'He buried me': Don Cherry says he's disappointed in co-host Ron MacLean"
. globalnews.ca. November 12, 2019.
- ^
"MacLean calls first "Hockey Night" without Cherry the "end of an era"
"
. theglobeandmail.com. November 16, 2019.
- ^
"Ron MacLean addresses viewers in first Hockey Night in Canada without Don Cherry"
. globalnews.ca. November 16, 2019.
- ^
"CBC.ca - Program Guide - Ron MacLean"
. Archived from
the original
on December 14, 2007.
- ^
"Coach's Corner"
.
Canada's Walk of Fame
.
- ^
"Ron MacLean referees NHL game"
.
CBC News
. September 30, 2006
. Retrieved
April 13,
2021
.
- ^
Warmington, Joe (May 10, 2012).
"Cherry stands by his pal MacLean"
. Toronto Sun
. Retrieved
February 27,
2020
.
- ^
"Hockey Night in Canada's Ron MacLean jumps in river to save suicidal man"
.
The National Post
. Postmedia News. June 3, 2010. Archived from
the original
on January 29, 2013
. Retrieved
February 3,
2011
.
- ^
Gentile, Petrina (September 29, 2010).
"Sports car for a sports guy"
.
The Globe and Mail
.
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]
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