S2 Ep95: Remembering HNIC: Dick Irvin on a Life Behind the Mic and the Moments That Defined Hockey Night.

John Shannon sits down with Hockey Night in Canada legend Dick Irvin for a rich and personal look back at one of the longest and most storied careers in Canadian broadcasting history. Dick traces his origins with the show back to 1965-66, when he stepped in alongside Danny Gallivan doing Wednesday night games after taking over from Keith Dancy — eventually becoming the first person in Hockey Night history to serve as play-by-play voice, colour commentator, and host on the same broadcast.

He reflects on 17 remarkable years working alongside Danny Gallivan, the special bond that developed with the Edmonton Oilers dynasty, and two of the most unforgettable moments in Hockey Night history — the 1976 Super Series against the Russians and the legendary Patrick Roy incident at the Montreal Forum.

Dick also shares the pride he carries from his father's coaching legacy with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. John Shannon closes the conversation by recalling how Dick mentored him when he first arrived at Hockey Night in 1977 — and how he personally convinced Dick to delay retirement, signing him to a five-year contract that kept his stories and voice on the air for years to come.