A voice synonymous with the Montreal Canadiens organization was recently named the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner, as Pierre Houde was recognized for his outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. And while there’s certainly no doubt Houde deserves the recognition, his impact on the hockey-crazed province that is Quebec may not be particularly evident to all Canadians. Admittedly, I have been blessed when it comes to play-by-play announcers.
Starting in the mid-80s, I would sneak a radio into bed to hear the third period of Montreal Canadiens games, which took place well beyond my designated bedtime every time La Soirée du hockey (Hockey Night in Canada) rolled around. The voice that greeted me belonged to none other than René Lecavalier, arguably the best play-by-play man in hockey history, and at the very least an equal to Foster Hewitt, the man who enthralled millions of English fans with his classic calls of memorable hockey plays. Lecavalier was honoured as the inaugural Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner in 1994, a well-deserved honour for a broadcaster who approached his job with a certain sense of pride and commitment.
He won the award alongside Hewitt himself, not to mention Danny Gallivan, another great voice born from the undeniable cultural link that bonds Canadians with their favourite sport. But if the award was named after a Francophone, it would carry Lecavalier’s name. Consequently, when Lecavalier retired, there was a sense of apprehens.
