Jim Robson, widely recognized as the voice of the Vancouver Canucks, has passed away at the age of 91.
His daughter, Jennifer Butler, confirmed to on Tuesday that her father died following a brief illness.
Over his impressive 47-year broadcasting career, Robson called more than 2,000 NHL games but is best known for announcing Canucks games for over three decades – beginning with their first major league game as an expansion team on Oct. 9, 1970.
The B. C. Sports Hall of Fame states that Robson “never missed a broadcast due to illness” until his retirement in April 1999.
Current Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor expressed in a post on X that “the word legend isn’t enough” to capture what Robson meant to the sport.
“He is the standard to which all BC based play-by-play broadcasters have aspired to, and will never reach,” his tribute reads.
In an interview with CBC Radio’s On marking his upcoming 90th birthday on Jan. 17, 2025, he shared that he always aimed to do his best while calling games.
“Every time I hear those clips, I think how I could make them a little better,” he told guest host Amy Bell.
Robson recalled dreaming of being a hockey announcer since childhood while growing up in Prince Albert, Sask., listening to hockey games every Saturday night on the radio.
He remembered believing that dream was gone when he moved with his family from chilly Saskatchewan winters to British Columbia’s milder climate in 1943.
However, it turned out differently for him.
He launched his sportscasting career in 1952 at just 17 years old at a radio station in Port Alberni, B. C., before moving onto Vancouver stations CKNW and CKWX covering baseball, football and hockey.
In addition to providing play-by-play for the Canucks for thirty years, Robson frequently appeared on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and covered four Stanley Cup Finals along with five NHL All-Star Games.
LISTEN | Celebrating legendary sports broadcaster Jim Robson on his 90th birthday (2025):
On The Coast13:27B. C. sports broadcaster Jim Robson turns 90
Joe Bowen , a fellow play – by – play announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs for44years , said it is “a sad day in the NHL broadcasting booth” upon learning of Robson ‘s death.
“The voice ofthe Vancouver Canuckswas iconicand thousandsoffans hungonhis everyword. Condolencestothe family , somanyfriendsandthousandsof listeners ,” he wroteinatributepostedon X.
Veteran Vancouverbroadcaster Jody Vance described Robsonasher idolandher friend.
“The measureofaman. Restwell, kindsir ,” shewroteon X.
Dave Sheldon, the senior manageroflacrosse operationsforthe Vancouver Warriors , whichis ownedby Canucks Sportsand Entertainment , said Robson “wasandisthe standardbywhichallareandshouldbemeasuredinbroadcasting.”
“He wasnever aboutpromotinghimself , onlyaboutcallingwhatwasinfrontofhimandbeingtheperfectconduittoallowallofuslisteningthetheaterofimaginationwhenwetunedin,” hesaidinasocialmediapost.
Robsonhadfourchildrenwithhis wife Beatrice. Theyweremarriedfor68years, u ntilher deathin September2025.
WATCH | Veteran sportscaster Jim Robsononthe Canucks ‘1994Stanley Cupdreamrun(2019):
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