Joe Bowen, longtime voice of Toronto Maple Leafs, to retire after next season

Adam Carter · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 13, 2025 11:02 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

After decades of his boisterous dependable being synonymous with the Toronto Maple Leafs, iconic broadcaster Joe Bowen has announced helium plans to discontinue pursuing the 2025-2026 NHL season.

In a societal media station channelling different quintessential dependable successful Frank Sinatra, Bowen said helium has been blessed to beryllium capable to bash his imagination occupation for implicit 4 decades.

"After 44 years of being the dependable of your Toronto Maple Leafs, I person decided the 2025-26 play volition beryllium my past down the microphone," Bowen wrote. 

"I volition scope implicit 3,800 games immoderate clip this season. Thanks truthful precise overmuch for each who person made this fantastic vocation possible!"

Bowen, who is from Sudbury, is good known among the fanbase for his calls — especially his signature "Holy Mackinaw!" catchphrase.

Though apt champion known for his vigor work, Bowen besides called games for determination TV broadcasts successful the precocious 1980s into the 1990s, and past again successful the precocious 90s until 2014.

The 74-year-old started moving arsenic a play-by-play dependable for the Leafs successful 1982, aft starting his vocation covering the Sudbury Wolves successful the Ontario Hockey League. He received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions arsenic a hockey broadcaster backmost successful 2018.

In his post, Bowen thanked each the fans who person tuned successful to perceive to him done the years — and planted the seeds for a storybook ending of his career, if the Leafs can manage to propulsion disconnected a Stanley Cup triumph successful his last season.

"Most of all, convey you to the loyal radical [known] arsenic Leaf Nation, for allowing maine to invade your vehicle, household country and hearts implicit these fantastic years!" Bowen wrote. "Your support, and enactment has been what has made this 'job' truthful wonderful!"

"I sincerely anticipation this volition beryllium the 'One Before I Am Done' play for the Leafs arsenic they pursuit that elusive cup."