Thank you Joe Bowen

 

Last night at Scotiabank Arena, the Toronto Maple Leafs did something they absolutely got right: they honoured Joe Bowen.

For as long as I can remember, Joe’s voice is my Maple Leafs memory. When I think back on watching games—good, bad, or downright heartbreaking—it’s not just the goals or saves that come to mind. It’s the calls. “Down goes Brown.” “We’re going to Boston, baby.” And about a thousand other moments that live rent-free in the heads of Leafs fans everywhere.

Since 1982, Joe has never hidden how he feels when calling a game, and that’s exactly why Leafs Nation loves him. He wears every goal, every comeback, and every crushing playoff loss right on his sleeve. Joe isn’t just calling the rollercoaster—he’s strapped into the front car with the rest of us. When the Leafs soar, he soars. When they break our hearts, you can hear it in his voice.

We’ve heard Joe talk many times about growing up listening to Foster Hewitt and how much of an influence he was. Funny enough, Joe Bowen became that influence for me. There was a time when I genuinely thought I might one day sit next to him, calling Leafs games myself. He’s the reason I used to mute my TV and call games from my bedroom like I was on the radio.

That dream didn’t last long—turnovers and bad goals tend to bring out some four-letter words the censors aren’t overly fond of—but hey, a kid can dream.

If this sounds like rambling, that’s because there really aren’t enough ways to say thank you. Thank you, Joe, for decades of memories and unforgettable calls. Whether it was beside Gord Stellick, Bill Watters, Harry Neale, or Jim Ralph, tuning in meant you were getting more than just play-by-play. You were getting real reactions—shock, joy, disbelief—and the occasional laugh when you and your broadcast partner cracked a joke. No matter the night, we were entertained.

I was lucky enough to meet Joe at a Leafs game during the 2023-24 season, and I’ll admit it—I was nervous. This was the voice I grew up with, walking toward me to say hello. It’s a moment that still doesn’t feel quite real, and one I’ll never forget.

Whenever Joe is asked what his favourite call has been as a Leafs broadcaster, his answer is always the same: he hasn’t made it yet.

So to the hockey gods—and to the Toronto Maple Leafs—please, let this be the year. Let Joe Bowen finally make the call he’s been waiting his entire career to make.

Thank you, Joe, for everything. For the memories, the emotion, the passion, and the voice of Leafs hockey.

Congratulations on an incredible career.