| Dick Irvin, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Dickinson Irvin, Jr. 1932 (age 79–80) Calgary, Alberta |
| Occupation | retired sports broadcaster and author |
James Dickinson (Dick) Irvin, Jr. (born 1932 in Calgary, Alberta) is a retired Canadian sports broadcaster and author. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 under the broadcasters category1. In 2004, Irvin was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame2.
Contents |
Dick Irvin is a graduate of McGill University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After several years in commerce, he turned to sports broadcasting and became well known as the Sports Director for CFCF radio and CFCF-TV in Montreal. Irvin often worked as colour commentator on Hockey Night in Canada with Danny Gallivan doing the play by play of Montreal Canadiens broadcasts. Through the 1970s and early 1980s, Irvin often acted as both the colour commentator and the studio host for telecasts from Montreal. This meant he often missed the beginnings and ends of periods as he moved from ice level to the broadcast booth and back.
Gallivan often playfully addressed Irvin as "Richard," even though Irvin's used name is a diminitive of "Dickinson." After Gallivan's retirement in 1984, Irvin worked as the play-by-play broadcaster for regional games from Montreal, and as a secondary colour commentator (or "third man" in the booth) for national games. He also provided radio play-by-play for Canadiens' games that were not on HNIC.
Upon his retirement, Irvin was the longest-serving member of CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada, with a broadcasting career spanning from 1966 to 1999. Though retired Irvin still contributes yearly to the annual "Hockey Day in Canada" broadcast, along with other occasional appearances. For example, on December 4, 2009, Irvin returned to announce the Montreal Canadiens centennial pre-game ceremony, introducing many of the former Canadiens participating in the event as they arrived onto the ice.
Irvin is a fountain of hockey knowledge having spent a lifetime in the game. His record for longevity with Hockey Night in Canada was recently surpassed by Bob Cole3. Irvin was also the sports director of CFCF-TV, a CTV affiliate in Montreal4.
Irvin wrote five books during his broadcasting career, and one after his retirement. These books include Now Back to You, Dick (1988), The Habs (1991), Behind the Bench (1993), In the Crease (1995), Tough Calls (1997), and My 26 Stanley Cups (2001)5.
Irvin's father, Dick Irvin, Sr., was a noted NHL player and coach.
His wife, Wilma, died in 2003.