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Ron MacLean

Bell Memorial - Inducted 1996

Ron MacLean began his career as a radio and television commentator with CKRD in Red Deer in 1977. CFAC TV which signed him to host the Calgary Flames hockey games recognized his talent as a sports broadcaster. In 1986, he joined Molstar Communications and quickly rose to fame following his first Stanley Cup broadcast in 1987. Other memorable moments include his appointments to co-host, for CBC, the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, and the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.

The names Ron MacLean and Don Cherry are synonymous with Hockey Night in Canada. His friend Don Cherry had this to say about him, "Ron MacLean is simply the best, his record speaks for itself; he'd have to be the best, he works with me."

In recognition of his performance as a sportscaster, The Gemini Award was presented to Ron MacLean in both 1992 and 1993. The President of the Canadian Hockey Association states that "He is a true ambassador for our Canadian game."

After Induction

Ron MacLean is best known as the longtime host of Hockey Night in Canada from since 1987 to 2014, and then was rehired starting again for the 2016/17 season. When Rogers Communications purchased the rights to broadcast Hockey Night in Canada in 2014, Ron's roll was reduced to hosting Coach's Corner with Don Cherry on Saturday's HNIC broadcasts. Throughout the 2014/15 season, Ron travelled to different communities across the country and hosted Rogers Hometown Hockey on Sunday afternoons. Ron was rehired for the 2016/2017 hockey season to be the main host of Saturday's edition of Hockey Night In Canada. He continues to host the very popular segments with Don Cherry and Coach's Corner, and host Rogers Hometown Hockey show on Sundays. Ron was inducted into the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Ron MacLean and Don Cherry, together, were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2015. Ron will receive an honourary doctor of laws degree from the University of Alberta at their fall convocation on November 19, 2019.

 

Other events: Ron has also hosted the Olympic Games for CBC, including: the Late Night and Early Morning show for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, as the Daytime host for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the Afternoon host of the 2004 Olympic Summer Games, main host for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and was the morning host at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic games.

 

Ron hosted the 2001 IAAF Track and Field World Championships in Edmonton for CBC, as well as other track and field competitions held around the world. He hosted CBC's coverage of Commonwealth Games, the Calgary Stampede, Skins Golf, and World Cup Hockey. Ron co-hosted with Kurt Browning, CBC's "Battle of the Blades" for four seasons from 2009 to 2013 - which paired a figure skater with a hockey player in a competition format. The show returned for a fifth season in the fall of 2019 with Ron as the host and Kurt Browning as the head judge.

 

Ron’s book, Cornered: Hijinks, Highlights, Late Nights and Insights, was published in 2011.

 

Awards:

Gemini Award winner (10 times,) with CBC including Best Host/Broadcaster in a Sports Program for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada (1992, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2007) and CBC's Hockey Day in Canada (2004, 2006). He received the George Gross Award for sports broadcasting two different times. He was inducted into the Oakville Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2015. Ron received the 2015 Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Hosts in a Sports Program or Series for his work with Hockey Night in Canada.

 

Timeline:

2005 - Alberta Centennial Salute for Sport and Recreation

2015 – Oakville Sports Hall of Fame

2015 – Canada’s Walk of Fame – shares a star with Don Cherry

2015 - Note: Ron was in and asked for corrections to his bio - removing the words "play-by-play" and adding "to host" the Calgary Flames broadcasts.

2016 - Ron was rehired as the main desk host of Hockey Night in Canada

2019 – U of A honorary doctor of laws degree - ceremony November 19, 2019.