Sportsnet with a beautiful tribute to the late Bob Cole

The CBC has announced that long-time Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Bob Cole has passed away at 90 years old.

From CBC:

Bob Cole, whose voice and lively language were the Saturday night soundtrack to hockey games over a broadcasting career that spanned more than half a century, has died. 

Cole, who was 90, died Wednesday night in St. John's surrounded by his family, his daughter Megan told CBC News on Thursday. 

This evening, Sportsnet highlighted some of Cole's finest moments and provided fans with a beautiful video tribute.

Check it out:

Cole began working for CBC Radio in 1969 and was promoted to CBC television in 1973, finally retiring from professional broadcasting in 2019 at 85 years old. Personally, he's my favorite NHL broadcaster of all time. I grew up listening to Bob Cole and Harry Neale every Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada and I loved every moment of it. Sure, his game dropped off toward the end of his career but his voice is unmistakable and he's been at the center of so many of hockey's biggest moments.

Cole's trademark 'Oh, baby!' is still shouted out by hockey fans when they see a particularly pretty play. And who can forget him shouting, 'They're going home! They're going home!' when the Russia's Red Army team temporarily left the ice during a heated exhibition game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers.

My personal favourite call from Cole though has to be from the 2002 Winter Olympics when Joe Sakic ice gold for Team Canada.

Just listen to this absolutely flawless execution of emotion through broadcasting:

JOE SAKIC! SCORES! 

Simple, but so, so, SO damn effective. Just perfect.

How about this one? Cole's famous call of Mario Lemieux's beautiful goal against the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 Stanley Cup Final.

"LOOK AT LEMIEUX! OH MY HEAVENS! WHAT A GOAL! WHAT A MOVE! LEMIEUX! OOOOOOH, BABY!"

Just... *chef's kiss*.

 In the meantime though, please treat yourself to some of the best calls in hockey history.