Peter Maher, Calgary Flames radio voice for 33 years, dies at 79

Peter Maher, the iconic radio voice of the Calgary Flames for 33 consecutive seasons, has died at age 79.

Maher began calling Flames games in 1980 and retired after the 2013–14 season without missing a single broadcast throughout his entire tenure. His legendary calls — particularly his trademark phrases "Yeah baby!" and "You can put it in the win column!" — became synonymous with Flames hockey across generations of fans.

During his three decades as the team's first radio announcer, Maher called the Flames through their 1989 Stanley Cup championship and their iconic 2004 run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Beyond his Calgary work, he called six NHL All-Star games, four Stanley Cup Finals, the 2005 IIHF World Championship, and every Canadian men's game at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006, receiving the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his contributions to NHL broadcasting.

Even after retirement, Maher's influence on the Flames community remained constant. The broadcast booth at the Scotiabank Saddledome bears his name, and the Peter Maher Good Guy Award — presented annually by local media to the player demonstrating sincerity, integrity, dedication and respect — continues his legacy. "It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our dad, Peter Maher," the Maher family said in a statement. "To so many people, Peter was the longtime voice of the Calgary Flames. To us, he was simply Dad." The Flames called him "a passionate ambassador for the Calgary Flames, a devoted member of the community and a person whose warmth, generosity and love for the game touched countless lives." Information regarding funeral arrangements will be shared in the coming days.