Legendary Canucks broadcaster Jim Robson passes away at 91

Robson became the voice of the Canucks when they entered the National Hockey League as an expansion team in 1970 with CKNW. Until the 1977-78 season, Robson worked alone, broadcasting without any colour commentator on the road. He was later joined by Tom Larscheid, who remained by Robson’s side on Canucks broadcast until the BC Lions’ radio rights moved to CFUN in 1983. Larscheid followed and was replaced by Garry Monahan from 1983-84 to 1987-88, rejoining Robson in 1988.

His radio work was so impactful that Robson was then asked to cover the Canucks on television, covering broadcasts on BCTV, CHEK-TV and YTV from 1985-1999. Robson continued with radio for nine of those seasons before stepping down and transitioning to full-time TV broadcasts. Jim Hughson replaced Robson on the radio after his last call: Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

But Robson’s reputation extended beyond Canucks hockey. Recognized as one of the top broadcasters in the league, Robson covered the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975, 1980, 1982 (Canucks vs. Islanders) and 1983. He was also asked to cover NHL All-Star Games in 1977, 1981 and 1983, and a handful of National TV Assignments, including with Hockey Night in Canada.

Robson was the announcer for Canucks TV for five seasons. In his final season in 1999, Robson shared play-by-play duties with the current voice of the Canucks, John Shorthouse. Once Robson retired, Hughson filled in for him on TV, while Shorthouse became the full-time play-by-play on the radio.

Before his career was over, Robson was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, which is “to recognize distinguished members of the radio and television industry who made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their career in hockey broadcasting.” Each recipient of the award is honoured with a plaque that is put on display in the Hall of Fame’s media section.

A few years later, Robson was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998, the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Canadian Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002. Jim Robson’s legacy on the Canucks will never be lost in Rogers Arena, as the broadcast booth is named after him to this day.

We will leave you with a video posted by the Vancouver Canucks on Robson’s 90th birthday in early 2025, with touching words from fellow Canucks broadcasters on his importance to them and the city of Vancouver.

We here at CanucksArmy wish the Robson family and friends our condolences at this time.