Paul Morris Has Passed Away
Many hockey fans today may be unaware of who Paul Morris is, but if you grew up a Leafs fan, your dad or grandpa would surely mention him. Paul Morris was the longtime PA announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his famous call—"Last minute of play in this period"—echoed through the rafters of Maple Leaf Gardens from 1961 until February 13, 1999, the team's final game at 60 Carlton Street. A week later, he became the first voice of the team's new home, Scotiabank Arena, then known as the Air Canada Centre.
When asked about Paul, legendary captain Darryl Sittler said, "His voice was synonymous with Maple Leaf Gardens. Players felt they had finally made the NHL when Paul announced their name."
During the closing ceremonies of Maple Leaf Gardens, Paul was given the chance to address the Leafs faithful. With tears in his eyes, he told them, "Fans didn’t get to live here like I did, but they did in their dreams."
The Leafs have had only four PA announcers in their history. Red Barber was the voice of the Gardens from its opening night in 1931 until 1961. Paul Morris then took over, calling 1,585 consecutive games before retiring. After him, longtime Toronto radio host Andy Frost announced Leafs goals from 1999 to 2016, followed by Mike Ross, the current announcer.
In a statement, the Maple Leafs said, "Paul was more than an announcer—he was part of Leafs history."
On behalf of myself and many Leafs fans, I’d like to extend my condolences to the Morris family. Paul was 86.
May the voice of Maple Leaf Gardens rest peacefully.
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