Maple Leafs Broadcast Legend Joe Bowen Takes First-Ever Day Off ...
The Fighting Irish were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes 34-23 on Monday night.
thehockeynews.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
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Joe Bowen, the longtime Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster, called his final Maple Leafs games in mid-April 2026 and announced his retirement after a 43-year career spanning radio and TV. This marks a milestone in Leafs history, with Bowen famed for the catchphrase “Holy mackinaw!”. Bowen had previously earned the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2018 for his broadcasting contributions.[1][2]
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Coverage around his retirement highlighted his final broadcasts on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and TSN 1050, and noted his long tenure since 1982, including a transition to radio in 2014. Some outlets also referenced potential conversations about a final legacy moment or tributes, given his status in Leafs Nation.[2][4][1]
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Contextual note: a few sources discuss Bowen as a Maple Leafs icon and include mentions of past milestones (e.g., calling thousands of games, 3,700th game in a prior season) to frame the significance of his departure.[2]
If you’d like, I can pull more recent, localized updates or look for tributes, memorials, or post-retirement appearances Bowen may be involved in. Would you prefer a quick snapshot, or a deeper dive with quotes and embedded clips?
Citations:
- Bowen retirement and final calls:[1]
- Career overview and awards:[1]
- Final games and broadcasting notes:[2]
- Leafs tributes and context:[4]