Joe Bowen, the longtime voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has announced that the 2025-26 season will be his last behind the microphone. Throughout his professional career, Bowen has called more than 3,000 Maple Leafs games over 44 seasons during the preseason, regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Over his years on radio and television, his voice has been broadcast across a variety of stations on which he has been able to blend his passion for the Maple Leafs with objectivity in calling the game. Bowen has worked alongside Jim Ralph in the radio booth for 28 seasons, and he previously paired with analyst Harry Neale for 12 years on television.
“I have been totally blessed to be able to do ‘My Dream Job’ for this long, eclipsing the career of my idol Foster Hewitt,” Bowen said in a statement. “I will reach over 3800 games some time this season. Thanks so very much to all who have made this wonderful career possible!”
Bowen is a native of Sudbury, Ont. and started calling midweek regional television broadcasts of Maple Leafs games in 1989. Upon Rogers Communications inking a deal for the national NHL broadcasting rights, he moved to radio and continued covering the team on both Sportsnet 590 The Fan and TSN Radio 1050. Bowen is known for his “Holy Mackinaw!” catchphrase and is a previous winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, granting him a spot in the prestigious Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Maple Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup championship since 1967, but the team has consistently qualified for the playoffs in recent years. Equipped with a roster including superstars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, the team has come close to the Eastern Conference Finals in recent years but have ultimately not been back in the round since 2002. The organization currently holds the longest championship drought in the National Hockey League, which stretched to 58 seasons upon the team being eliminated by the Florida Panthers.
“Most of all, thank you to the loyal group known as Leaf Nation, for allowing me to invade your vehicle, family room and hearts over these wonderful years!,” Bowen said. “Your support, and interaction has been what has made this ‘job’ so wonderful! You are the most loyal and demonstrative fans on the face of the earth!! I can not THANK YOU enough!! ! I sincerely hope that this will be the ‘One Before I Am Done’ Season for the Leafs as they chase that elusive Cup!”
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