Two Maple Leafs Icons Not Making The Trip To Ottawa For Game Three
Broadcast legends Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph are being told they can't commentate during the Ottawa Senators/Toronto Maple Leafs games in Ottawa.
Frustrations were high in Leafs Nation on Wednesday after news that both Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph; the legendary duo who have called countless Maple Leafs games are not going to be travelling to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4 in a bizarre set of circumstances.
Revealing the news on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, co-host Nick Alberga gave the unfortunate bit of information that due to some previous protocols, they won't be travelling:
I find out that Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph will not be travelling with the Maple Leafs. These are two legends in this market. You turn on the radio, you've done it a billion times, I've done it a billion times; you hear Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph cover the Maple Leafs games.
They don't travel because this is a post-pandemic thing. Well, newsflash it's 2025. I couldn't believe my ears and mind when I heard this from multiple people in the press box last night.
They don't travel because this is a post-pandemic thing. Well, newsflash it's 2025. I couldn't believe my ears and mind when I heard this from multiple people in the press box last night.
His co-host Jay Rosehill, a former Maple Leafs defenseman also chimed in with his thoughts on the situation:
It's kind of surprising, there has to be someone in the executive branch who made that call. They're a staple, you go and shoot the s*** with them, you see them in the lobby, say hi, they're there. The voices are iconic, you don't even need to see them you know what they look like just from hearing them.
It's sad they aren't coming, it's not a money thing, it makes me think somebody yup there has decided they don't want that around the team. It's probably a stupid reason that someone in power decided to shut that down.
It's sad they aren't coming, it's not a money thing, it makes me think somebody yup there has decided they don't want that around the team. It's probably a stupid reason that someone in power decided to shut that down.
Bowen has called Maple Leafs games since 1982, and his voice is as ingrained in fans' heads with his exuberant calls, clear passion for the team and trademark catchphrase 'Holy Mackinaw!'
He won the Foster Hewitt Award in 2018 for his excellence and contributions in broadcasting, and reached his 3,000th game in 2017.
While it's a shame that both Bowen and Ralph will be missing the Ottawa series, it's not going to stop them from watching the team with the exact same amount of love an passion as when they're on the air.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 23 | 575 ANSWERS Two Maple Leafs Icons Not Making The Trip To Ottawa For Game Three Should Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph be able to commentate games for Toronto while they aren't at home? | ||
| Yes | 539 | 93.7 % |
| No | 36 | 6.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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