Breaking: CBC and legendary broadcaster Bob Cole make historic announcement

Oooooooooooh, baby! Legendary Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Bob Cole is back! 

After sitting out the entirety of the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the future of the 85 year old play by play man was up in the air, but today the CBC confirmed that Cole will be back on the air for his 50th and final season. 

Cole will call just 10 games this upcoming season, all Saturday night games on Hockey Night in Canada. After that… it’s all over. Whether he wants to or not, Cole will NOT be back for the 2019-20 season.

“Hockey has been my passion for as long as I can remember,” said Cole. “It’s been an honour and a privilege serving Canadian hockey fans across the country and being part of the Hockey Night in Canada institution. I’m looking forward to getting to the rinks for this last season, seeing familiar faces and getting out there to do what I love most in the world.”

CBC’s President Scott Moore, who took some serious heat for his decision to sit Cole out of last spring’s playoffs heaped praise on the living legend earlier today.

“There are so few broadcasters and voices in sport that transcend the way Bob’s has over the last half a century and we are honoured to have him call this last season for Sportsnet on Hockey Night in Canada,” said Moore. “Bob is a true professional in this industry and he will pour his heart and soul into these games, focusing on doing the job that he loves and delivering the call to our hockey audiences from coast-to-coast.”

The 85 year old Cole has called some of the biggest hockey games in history and is one of the most beloved broadcasters in all of Canada. He was honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996 when he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. Cole got his start in hockey broadcasting with VOCM Radio in his hometown St. John's, Newfoundland then moved to television in 1973. The Gemini Award-winning broadcaster and Order of Canada member has also handled play-by-play for multiple Winter Olympics.

And now, without further ado, some of the all time BEST Bob Cole calls: