Legendary announcer Jim Hughes criticizes Maple Leafs fans with latest comments
Former legendary broadcaster Jim Hughson has spoken out regarding how challenging it was to call Toronto Maple Leafs games on HNIC.
Hughson's broadcasting career lasted a whopping 42 years, where he covered everything from the Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, Vancouver Canucks, and the Toronto Maple Leafs on a bunch of different TV networks. He was even the main voice of the EA Sports hockey video games. Hughson had nothing but praise for the Vancouver Canucks and their fans.
"I found that as a broadcaster -- and everyone knew I was a Vancouver guy and that I lived in the city -- local people didn't think I was a big enough fan and the other guys thought I was too much of a fan."
It was the total opposite when Hughson was asked what it was like to call Toronto Maple Leafs games.
"One of the downsides of having the top chair in Hockey Night in Canada is basically you become a Toronto Maple Leaf broadcaster because you're there every Saturday, whether they're good or bad. As the years have gone by, I've noticed a real change in fandom, a part of it social media I think... the local fan base expects their broadcasters to be like them.
They want fans and if you're not you must hate them and that's the problem you get when you're broadcasting on the national level out of Toronto is that they want a local broadcast but at the same time the broadcasters are broadcasting to every corner of the province.
You know, you might be broadcasting a game with the New York Islanders playing and the young men who play for the Islanders are from all different parts of Canada as well and their people are invested in it as well.
It's really a hard one to win in that sense and now you get judged every day on social media or every minute on social media, which has changed the aspect of broadcasting for the guys that are still doing it entirely."
Hughson retired in 2021, but seems to be happy with how everything turned out, even with the Leafs fans. No matter how much he might be loved or hated, Hughson's voice will live in hockey fans' minds for eternity.
Credit Maple Leafs Daily:
Legendary HNIC broadcaster makes shocking admission about working Leafs games
POLL |
Do you miss hockey announcer Jim Hughson's broadcasting voice? |
Yes | 193 | 52.7 % |
No | 173 | 47.3 % |
List of polls |
|
3 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Three Toronto Maple Leafs Robbed in Upcoming 4 Nations Face-Offs |
|
4 hours ago | By Chris Gerics New Lineup Concerns Mounting For The Toronto Maple Leafs Ahead Of Condensed Schedule, Per NHL Analysts |
|
6 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Final Toronto Maple Leafs Selections for Team Canada and Team USA for 4 Nations Face-Offs |
|
7 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Jani Hakanpaa's Future Uncertain: Maple Leafs Urged to Target Stanley Cup Champion Defenseman |
|
10 hours ago | By Chris Gerics William Nylander Officially Joins Team Sweden: Full Roster for 4 Nations Face-Off Revealed |
|
10 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Team Finland Surprisingly Selects Toronto Maple Leafs Player to the 4 Nations Face-Off |
|
11 hours ago | By Chris Gerics NHL Insider Shares Surprising Update on Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies' Contract Extension Talks |
|
12 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Maple Leafs Scratch Alex Nylander: Craig Berube Explains Lineup Change Vs. the Predators |
Previously on HockeyPatrol