List of Hockey Night in Canada commentating crews (1980s)

Throughout this period, Hockey Night in Canada studio shows were still originate on-site. Dave Hodge hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and Dick Irvin, Jr. hosted the Montreal Canadiens games and The Fisher Report at the Forum in Montreal with analyst Red Fisher. Steve Armitage hosts the Vancouver Canucks games, and Chris Cuthbert hosted the games in Western Canada - either the Calgary Flames, or the Oilers. Brian McFarlane hosted the Winnipeg Jets or Montreal Canadiens games, or telecasts in the United States later in the decade. This allowed for on-air talent, including commentators for the show, and their guests (often ex-players and players in their community) to provide further insights of their personal lives. Since the 1987 playoffs, Ron MacLean and Don Cherry hosted Coach's Corner, a show that was broadcast across Canada. For the Stanley Cup Finals, the program originates on-site.

Stanley Cup playoffs

Year	Round	Series	Games covered	Play-by-play	Colour commentator(s)
1980	First round	Philadelphia-Edmonton	Games 1, 3	Bob Cole (in Philadelphia) Don Wittman (in Edmonton)	Gary Dornhoefer (in Philadelphia) Gerry Pinder (in Edmonton)
		Buffalo-Vancouver	Games 1–4	Don Wittman (in Buffalo) Jim Robson (in Vancouver)	Gerry Pinder (in Buffalo) Howie Meeker (in Vancouver)
		Montréal-Hartford	Games 1, 3	Danny Gallivan	Mickey Redmond and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Boston-Pittsburgh	Game 5	Jim Robson and Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and Dick Irvin Jr.
		Minnesota-Toronto	Games 1, 3	Bill Hewitt (in Minnesota) Bob Cole (in Toronto)	Brian McFarlane (in Minnesota) Gary Dornhoefer (in Toronto)
	Quarterfinals	Montréal-Minnesota	Games 1–7	Danny Gallivan	Gary Dornhoefer and Dick Irvin, Jr.
	Semifinals	Philadelphia-Minnesota	Games 4–5	Dan Kelly (first half of Game 4) Jim Robson (second half of Game 4) Don Wittman (Game 5)	Gerry Pinder and Howie Meeker (Game 4) Dick Irvin, Jr. (Game 5)
		Buffalo-New York Islanders	Games 1–3, 6	Bob Cole (Games 1–2; first half of Game 6) Jim Robson (first half of Game 3) Dan Kelly (2nd half of Games 3 and 6)	Gary Dornhoefer (Games 1–2, 6) Gerry Pinder (Game 3)
1981	First round	New York Islanders-Toronto	Games 1–3	Bill Hewitt (in New York) Bob Cole (in Toronto)	Howie Meeker and Brian McFarlane (in New York) Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder and Chico Resch (in Toronto)
		Montréal-Edmonton	Games 1–3	Danny Gallivan	Mickey Redmond and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Buffalo-Vancouver	Games 1–3	Don Wittman (in Buffalo) Jim Robson (in Vancouver)	Gerry Pinder (in Buffalo) Howie Meeker (in Vancouver)
		Philadelphia-Québec	Games 4–5	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer, Mickey Redmond, and Dick Irvin Jr.
		Calgary-Chicago	Games 1–3	Bob Cole (in Calgary) Don Wittman (in Chicago)	Gary Dornhoefer (in Calgary) Gerry Pinder (in Chicago)
	Quarterfinals	New York Islanders-Edmonton	Games 1–6	Danny Gallivan (in New York) Don Wittman (in Edmonton)	Mickey Redmond, Brian McFarlane and Dick Irvin, Jr. (in New York) Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder and Chico Resch (Games 3–4) Gerry Pinder, Gary Dornhoefer and Chico Resch (Games 6)
		Philadelphia-Calgary	Games 1–7	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer (Games 1–2, 5–7) Gerry Pinder (Games 3–4)
	Semifinals	Calgary-Minnesota	Games 1–6	Jim Robson (in Calgary) Don Wittman (in Minnesota)	Mickey Redmond and Dick Irvin, Jr. (in Calgary) Gary Dornhoefer and Chico Resch (in Minnesota)
1982	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Québec	Games 1–5	Danny Gallivan	Gary Dornhoefer, Bobby Hull, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (Games 1, 3–4) Bobby Hull, Gary Dornhoefer, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (in Montréal) Gary Dornhoefer, Bobby Hull, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (Games 2–5)
		Winnipeg-St. Louis	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Mickey Redmond
		Edmonton-Los Angeles	Games 1–5	Bob Cole	Don Cherry Gary Dornhoefer (Game 5)
		Vancouver-Calgary	Games 1–3	Jim Robson (in Vancouver) Dave Hodge (in Calgary)	Howie Meeker
	Divisional finals	Boston-Québec	Games 1–7	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin Jr. Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Dick Irvin Jr., and Don Cherry (Games 1–2) Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin Jr. (in Québec) Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin Jr. (Games 5–7)
		Vancouver-Los Angeles	Games 1–5	Jim Robson (in Vancouver) Don Wittman (in Los Angeles)	Gary Dornhoefer Howie Meeker (in Los Angeles)
	Conference finals	New York Islanders-Québec	Games 1–4	Danny Gallivan	Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr. Bobby Hull, Dick Irvin, Jr. and Don Cherry (in New York) Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (in Québec)
		Chicago-Vancouver	Games 1–5	Don Wittman (in Chicago) Jim Robson (in Vancouver)	Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, Howie Meeker, and Bobby Hull Howie Meeker, Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, and Bobby Hull (in Vancouver) Bobby Hull, Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, and Howie Meeker (Game 5)
1983	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Buffalo	Games 1–3	Danny Gallivan	Mickey Redmond, Don Cherry and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Minnesota-Toronto	Games 1–4	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Games 1–3	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer
		Calgary-Vancouver	Games 1–4	Jim Hughson (in Calgary) Jim Robson (in Vancouver)	Howie Meeker
	Divisional finals	New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Game 6	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Dick Irvin, Jr. and Don Cherry
		Edmonton-Calgary	Games 1–5	Jim Robson	Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, and Howie Meeker
	Conference finals	Boston-New York Islanders	Games 2–3, 5–6	Danny Gallivan	Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Chicago	Games 1–4	Jim Robson and Don Wittman (in Edmonton) Bob Cole and Dan Kelly (in Chicago)	Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, and Howie Meeker (in Edmonton) Mickey Redmond, Bobby Hull, Dick Irvin, Jr., and Don Cherry (in Chicago)
1984	Divisional semifinals	Boston-Montréal	Games 1–3	Danny Gallivan	Mickey Redmond and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Games 4–5	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Dick Irvin, Jr. and Don Cherry
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Games 1–3	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer
		Calgary-Vancouver	Games 1–4	Don Wittman (in Calgary) Jim Robson (in Vancouver)	Howie Meeker
	Division finals	Québec-Montréal	Games 1–6	Danny Gallivan and Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr. Mickey Redmond, Don Cherry, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (first two periods of Game 6; rest of series entirely) Mickey Redmond, Dick Irvin, Jr., and Don Cherry (third period of Game 6)
		Edmonton-Calgary	Games 1–7	Don Wittman and Jim Robson	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and Chico Resch
	Conference finals	Montréal-New York Islanders	Games 1–6	Danny Gallivan	Gary Dornhoefer, Mickey Redmond, Brian McFarlane and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Minnesota	Games 1–4	Jim Robson	Mickey Redmond, Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker and Chico Resch
1985	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Boston	Games 1–5	Danny Gallivan and Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Gary Dornhoefer, Don Cherry and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Los Angeles	Games 1–3	Jim Robson	Gary Dornhoefer, Gerry Pinder, and Howie Meeker
		Winnipeg-Calgary	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and John Davidson
	Divisional finals	Montréal-Québec	Games 1–2, 5, 7	Danny Gallivan and Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Gary Dornhoefer, Don Cherry and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Chicago-Minnesota	Game 6	Jim Robson	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker and John Davidson
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker and John Davidson
	Conference finals	Edmonton-Chicago	Games 1–6	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker and John Davidson
1986	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Boston	Games 1–3	Bob Cole and Dick Irvin, Jr.	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Chicago-Toronto	Games 1–3	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Minnesota-St. Louis	Games 4–5	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Vancouver	Games 1–3	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and John Davidson
	Divisional finals	Montréal-Hartford	Games 1–7	Bob Cole and Dick Irvin, Jr.	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		St. Louis-Toronto	Games 1–7	Bob Cole	Gary Dornhoefer, Dick Irvin, Jr., Howie Meeker, and John Davidson
		Edmonton-Calgary	Games 1–7	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and John Davidson
	Conference finals	Montréal-New York Rangers	Games 1–5	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Calgary-St. Louis	Games 1–7	Don Wittman	Gary Dornhoefer, Howie Meeker, and John Davidson
1987	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Boston	Games 1–4	Bob Cole and Dick Irvin, Jr.	Gary Dornhoefer, Harry Neale, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		St. Louis-Toronto	Games 1–6	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Los Angeles	Games 1–5	Jim Robson (Games 1–2, 4–5) Steve Armitage (Game 3)	Howie Meeker and John Garrett
		Calgary-Winnipeg	Games 1–6	Don Wittman	Scotty Bowman, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, John Garrett, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Washington-New York Islanders	Game 7	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
	Divisional finals	Montréal-Québec	Games 1–2, 5, 7	Bob Cole and Dick Irvin, Jr.	Gary Dornhoefer, Harry Neale, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Detroit-Toronto	Games 1–7	Bob Cole	Scotty Bowman, Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Harry Neale, Scotty Bowman, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and John Garrett
	Conference finals	Philadelphia-Montréal	Games 1–6	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, Scotty Bowman and Dick Irvin, Jr.
1988	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Hartford	Games 1–6	Dick Irvin, Jr.	Scotty Bowman
		Detroit-Toronto	Games 1–6	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Calgary-Los Angeles	Games 1–5	Don Wittman, Chris Cuthbert, and Bruce Buchanan	John Garrett
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Games 1–5	Don Wittman, Bruce Buchanan, and Chris Cuthbert	John Garrett, Scotty Bowman, Chico Resch, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
	Divisional finals	Montréal-Boston	Games 1–5	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, Scotty Bowman and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Washington-New Jersey	Games 1 (joined-in-progress), 6–7	Don Wittman and Chris Cuthbert (Game 1) Bob Cole (Games 6–7)	Scotty Bowman, Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and Dick Irvin, Jr. (Games 6–7)
		Edmonton-Calgary	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Scotty Bowman, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, John Garrett, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
	Conference finals	Boston-New Jersey	Games 1–7	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, Scotty Bowman, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
1989	Divisional semifinals	Montréal-Hartford	Games 1–4	Dick Irvin, Jr.	Scotty Bowman
		Calgary-Vancouver	Games 1–7	Don Wittman and Bob Cole	Harry Neale and John Garrett (Games 1–2) Harry Neale and John Garrett (Games 3–7)
		Los Angeles-Edmonton	Games 1–7	Don Wittman and Chris Cuthbert (Games 1–4) Chris Cuthbert and Don Wittman (Games 5–7)	Harry Neale and John Garrett (Games 1–2) Harry Neale and John Garrett (Games 3–7)
	Divisional finals	Montréal-Boston	Games 1–5	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, Scotty Bowman and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Pittsburgh-Philadelphia	Games 6–7	Bob Cole	Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, Scotty Bowman and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		St. Louis-Chicago	Game 5	Don Wittman	Scotty Bowman,Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, John Garrett, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Calgary-Los Angeles	Games 1–4	Don Wittman	Scotty Bowman, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, John Garrett, and Dick Irvin, Jr.
	Conference finals	Montréal-Philadelphia	Games 1–6	Bob Cole	Scotty Bowman, Harry Neale, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson and Dick Irvin, Jr.
		Calgary-Chicago	Games 1–5	Don Wittman	Harry Neale, Scotty Bowman, Gary Dornhoefer, John Davidson, and John Garrett

Notes

• On April 9, 1980, CBC carried the ACTRA awards ceremony. This caused the Hartford-Montréal and Edmonton-Philadelphia playoff games not to be televised. Meanwhile, the Toronto-Minnesota game was shifted to CHCH in Hamilton while the Vancouver-Buffalo game was televised by CBC regionally in British Columbia as usual. The ACTRA awards show was tape-delayed into prime time on the west coast.

• Aside from the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals, CBC's only other nationally televised postseason games (all of the other games were seen regionally) from that year were the Edmonton-Los Angeles game (April 12), the Boston-Québec game (April 23), the deciding game seven between the same two teams at Boston Garden (April 25), and the Vancouver-Chicago game (May 6).

• CTV had the national rights for the 1986 Calgary-St. Louis playoff series, except in the Calgary market, for which CBC and Molson retained exclusive rights to. CTV was unable to televise Games 2 and 3 of this series due to prior commitments. Meanwhile, CBC was allowed to televise Games 2 and 3 to all of Alberta and British Columbia, but not nationally.

• On April 18, 1988 (during Game 1 of the Montréal-Boston playoff series) at approximately 8:08 p.m. local time, the was a power outage in the province of Québec. While darkness enveloped Montréal and the Forum itself, the Forum's reserve generators kicked into gear. The generators were only able to illuminate the rink surface with enough power to keep the game moving. Ultimately, CBC was left with no choice but to abandon coverage following the first period.
  • That same day, Chris Cuthbert was assigned by CBC to report and provide updates on Game 1 of Washington-New Jersey playoff series. However, when the Quebec blackout affected CBC's coverage of the Game 1 of the Boston-Montreal playoff series, the network threw to him and the solitary camera beside him in his coverage position to work the rest of this game. The whole process was totally done off the cuff. In other words, there were no graphics, no replay capabilities, and no analyst.

• CanWest-Global aired the 1988 Edmonton-Calgary playoff series nationally, except for the Edmonton and Calgary markets, where CBC retained exclusive rights.

See also

• List of Hockey Night in Canada commentators

External links

• Stanley Cup Playoffs on CBC - Google Search
  • Hockey Night in Canada

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