(St. John’s) Tributes continue to pour in for Bob Cole as his family confirmed the legendary broadcaster’s funeral will take place Friday in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Wayne Gretzky says it was Cole’s passion for hockey that made him a great player.
Gretzky shared his memories of Cole during Hockey Night in Canada Saturday, recalling the respect that the players had for the broadcaster.
Gretzky said he was particularly happy to meet Cole at a charity event in Newfoundland and Labrador, the broadcasters’ home province, a place he refused to move away from regardless the number of times his bosses asked him.
Cole died last week in St. John’s at the age of 90, and his funeral will be held Friday at St. Thomas Anglican Church in the provincial capital.
Cole was perhaps best known for his action-by-action commentary on Hockey Night in Canada, where he was loved for his wit, passion and signature exclamation: “Oh Baby!” »
Gretzky told Ron MacLean on Saturday that Cole loved being on the ice, whether it was watching team practices or calling a game.
“He was truly a guy who was passionate about hockey and to me, that’s what separates great broadcasters and great athletes from everyday people,” Gretzky said.
“I feel honored to say that I was his friend and he will be greatly missed,” Gretzky added. He played an important role in Hockey Night in Canada and he played an important role in the National Hockey League. »
During Cole’s decades-long career, he traveled to cities across the country, where he brought some of hockey’s greatest games to life.