Jim Robson, the legendary broadcaster widely known as the “Voice of the Vancouver Canucks,” passed away today (Feb10), at the age of 91 after a brief illness. His family, including daughter Jennifer Butler, confirmed the news.
Born on January 17, 1935, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Robson began his broadcasting career in 1952 at age 17, calling high school basketball games in Port Alberni, British Columbia. He moved to Vancouver in 1956, joining CKWX radio, where he covered a variety of sports, including the BC Lions (CFL football), Vancouver Mounties (baseball), and the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks.
His association with the Canucks deepened when the franchise joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970. Robson became their play-by-play announcer on radio (initially with CKWX, then moving to CKNW), calling their very first NHL game on October 9, 1970. He held this role for nearly three decades, earning the affectionate title “Voice of the Canucks.” He worked solo for many early years and later partnered with color commentators like Tom Larscheid.
In 1994, Robson stepped down from radio (his final radio broadcast included Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals) and transitioned to television full-time, continuing to call Canucks games until his retirement in 1999. Over his career, he broadcast more than 2,000 NHL games, including the Canucks’ Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 1982 and 1994. He also contributed to national broadcasts, calling four Stanley Cup Finals, five NHL All-Star Games, and other events for Hockey Night in Canada, plus lacrosse, football, and baseball.Robson’s smooth, professional style and iconic calls—such as his memorable line during the 1994 playoffs about Trevor Linden (“He’ll play, you know he’ll play, he’ll play on crutches!”)—made him a beloved figure for generations of fans.
He set a high standard for broadcasters in British Columbia.His honors include induction into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame (1998), BC Sports Hall of Fame (2000), Canadian Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Hall of Fame (2002), and the Order of British Columbia. The broadcast booth at Rogers Arena is named in his honor.
Robson retired in 1999 but remained connected to the team and community, attending games when possible. He is survived by his wife Bea and four children. His legacy as a gentleman and one of the greatest play-by-play announcers in Canucks history endures.
