Pat Connolly announces Retirement

Press Release

Halifax Mooseheads public address announcer Pat Connolly announced his retirement today after 60 plus years of being involved in sport in Nova Scotia. Connolly has been the voice of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Nova Scotia Oilers, Halifax Citadels and Halifax Mooseheads over the past 35 plus years.

The Mooseheads will honour the media giant with a pre-game ceremony at their Home Opener on Friday, September 18th against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, which will be appropriately dubbed “Pat Connolly Night: A Tribute to a Legend”.

“There is no person in this Province that has played a more prominent role in sports media in Nova Scotia over the last 6 decades than Pat Connolly,” stated Brian Urquhart, Vice President, Business Operations. “We look forward to honouring and recognizing our good friend Pat on behalf of his colleagues and all those he’s affected during his years of dedication to sport in Atlantic Canada”.

“The last 60 years have never ceased to be an exciting run in what have probably been the most exciting periods in provincial and national sports history. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities given to me to be part of it, the privileges of indulging my personal passions and cultivating friendships while making a living among some of the greatest athletes, teams and working associates of our times,” stated Connolly. “The reality is that there is a time and place for everything and everybody and my time to leave has arrived, but the memories will linger on."

Long-time Mooseheads game announcer Ian Robinson will replace Mr.Connolly as the Mooseheads public address announcer. Tickets for the Halifax Mooseheads Home Opener and tribute to Pat Connolly go on sale Monday, September 14th at 9am at all Ticket Atlantic Outlets.

Pat Connolly Bio:

Pat Connolly, born and raised in Nova Scotia, began his print journalism career in Sydney with the Halifax Herald in 1945, later followed by a move to the Sydney Post-Record. His broadcasting career began in 1948 with CJCB Sydney, before moving to CJCH in Halifax. In 1954, Pat became Atlantic Canada’s first television sports host with CBHT. Over the ensuring 35 plus years, Pat has been the voice of the Nova Scotia based American Hockey League teams Nova Scotia Voyageurs, Nova Scotia Oilers and Halifax Citadels. He was also a popular feature columnist for both The Chronicle Herald and Halifax Daily News, as well as other national and American publications.

Over the past 60 plus years, Pat has dedicated a lot of his time to community, sports and charitable organization within the Province. From 1977 to 1997 he was the chairperson of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee, and from 1983 to 2007 a member of both the Board of Governors and Selection Committee of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. An elected member of both the Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame, Mr.Connolly has also served on the Board of Governors of St.Mary’s University, Steering Committee of the Sport Hall of Fame and in 2006 received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Saint Mary’s University for diversified community involvements.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)