The classic 91裸聊视频淗ockey Night in Canada91裸聊视频� theme song resounded through a St. John91裸聊视频檚, N.L., church Friday where friends, family and colleagues gathered to remember Bob Cole, the legendary sportscaster who brought some of the sport91裸聊视频檚 most important games to living rooms across the country.

Ron MacLean and former NHL goalie Glenn Healy, who both worked alongside Cole on 91裸聊视频淗ockey Night in Canada,91裸聊视频� were among the mourners assembled in St. Thomas91裸聊视频� Anglican Church to pay tribute to Cole.

91裸聊视频淲e all remember the voice, but I remember the gleam in his eye,91裸聊视频� MacLean told reporters outside the navy-blue clapboard church in downtown St. John91裸聊视频檚. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no one that doesn91裸聊视频檛 recognize that look that he had, which was half mischief and half master of a craft.91裸聊视频�

During his eulogy, MacLean said there was no better word to describe Cole than 91裸聊视频済rit.91裸聊视频� Cole died April 24 at the age of 90.

A great celebration of life for Mr. Bob Cole. 91裸聊视频淣othing is ever a big deal91裸聊视频� 鉂わ笍

91裸聊视频� Cassie Campbell-Pascall (@CassieCampbell)

91裸聊视频淎 good friend is somebody who will always tell you things you don91裸聊视频檛 want to hear, and Bob would always do that,91裸聊视频� MacLean told the mourners assembled in the church. 91裸聊视频淭hey will embolden you to become the person you were born to be, and he definitely did that for me. Even to the last Saturday, four days before Bob passed, he says, 91裸聊视频榊ou91裸聊视频檙e doing a great job.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Cole91裸聊视频檚 broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, but he was best known for his play-by-play commentary on 91裸聊视频淗ockey Night in Canada.91裸聊视频� With his signature wit, passion and 91裸聊视频淥h baby!91裸聊视频� exclamations, Cole was a giant in Canadian broadcasting and one of the most admired voices in hockey.

He called the 1972 Summit Series on radio. On TV, there was the 1976 game in Philadelphia when the Soviet Red Army players left the ice in protest of the Flyers take-no-prisoners tactics. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e going home,91裸聊视频� said an incredulous Cole.

He was there for the 2002 Olympic final in Salt Lake City when Canada ended its 50-year Olympic gold-medal drought with a win over the United States in the final.

91裸聊视频淛oe Sakic scores and that makes it 5-2 Canada. Surely that91裸聊视频檚 got to be it?91裸聊视频� said Cole. He narrated many Stanley Cup finals, including the Edmonton Oilers91裸聊视频� first cup win with Wayne Gretzky at the helm.

Cole was a dedicated Newfoundlander, refusing every time his bosses asked to move away to be closer to his work, his daughter Megan Cole has said.

Outside the church on Friday, Healy said Cole was an authentic, beautiful man with a great spirit. He said Cole was 91裸聊视频渟imply the best91裸聊视频� at his job.

91裸聊视频淗e truly cared about the game, about the players, and he cared about the poetry that was on the ice,91裸聊视频� Healy told reporters.

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Greg Millen, also a former NHL goalie who is now part of the Hockey Night in Canada team, said it was an honour to work with Cole, who wasn91裸聊视频檛 shy to offer advice.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 get a lecture every day on the way to the rink: 91裸聊视频楴ow, Greg, stay out of the way, it91裸聊视频檚 all about the fans, it91裸聊视频檚 not about us,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Millen recalled outside the church. 91裸聊视频淗e loved the fans, he loved the game, and he loved the players in the game. He taught us so much.91裸聊视频�

Cole died in his beloved home city of St. John91裸聊视频檚, surrounded by his family.

Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press