Pat Connolly, 1928-2012

Press Release

Legendary broadcaster and former public address announcer for the Halifax Mooseheads, Pat Connolly, lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday.

His broadcasting career started off with a major bang in 1949. As a rosey-cheeked 21-year old, with just three weeks experience at Sydney radio station CJCB, Connolly found himself in Maple Leaf Gardens, doing play-by-play for the Allan Cup final between the Sydney Millionaires and the Toronto Marlboros. "I grew up listening to Hockey Night in Canada, and then there I was, sitting in Foster Hewitts seat in the gondola. How the hell do you top that?" In 1952, Connolly left CJCB to "explore this great country." While in Flin Flon, Manitoba, he received a call from Danny Gallivan. Gallivan had just been named play-by-play man for the Montreal Canadiens, and wondered if Connolly might be interested in replacing him at CJCH in Halifax. He was, and came back to take over the role of sports director. From there, the rest is Nova Scotia broadcasting history. Connolly soon moved to CBC Halifax, and when TV debuted three years later, he became the first television sports caster in Atlantic Canada.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)