Peter Maher, the official voice of the Calgary Flames for the past 32 years, has announced his retirement during a media conference on Tuesday.
Flames owner Ken King said the gathering at the Saddledome was the largest he's ever been to in 13 years with the team.
"It was never about Peter, it was always about the people he was talking to."
King said that Maher has gone through all the ups and downs of the Flames. "They have gone through everything anyone has ever gone through. Peter is at the top of the class. He has seen the best of it and he has seen the most challenging periods of it."
"I think our maintenance crew said it best this morning when they said 'we're going to lose our voice'. That's just the pureness of Peter and the full extent of his impact."
The Program Director for Sportsnet 960 the Fan Kelly Kirsch said he's known Maher for almost 25 years. "Peter treated me with great respect as he did all sportcasters. He took the time and treated everybody with respect."
Kirsch said that Maher has always been heavily involved in charity events. :"He emceed just about everything, golf tournaments, whether it was playing in it, seeing it, talking about it."
He added that Maher is an idol to many young broadcasters who send him their tapes for his feedback.
Maher told the conference on Tuesday that it was a different type of morning for him. "I want to thank you all for coming out and being a part of this and sharing in this day."
He said that he's had a great opportunity calling for the Flames. "I've been blessed to not miss an NHL play-by-play assignment after over 3,100 games. For that, I'm forever grateful and a special thanks to the trainers and doctors who got me through some of the awful sick moments."
Maher offers 'nothing but the very best' for his replacement in the broadcast booth. "This is the NHL, the National Hockey League. Treat every game, every broadcast, with respect and reverence. Remember, it's an honour to be a broadcaster in the greatest league in the world."
Maher, 65, has called games for the team ever since the franchise moved to the city from Atlanta.
Prior to that, he worked for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1977-1980.
His tribute for departing captain Jarome Iginla last year nearly moved the player to tears.
Maher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.
He also called games during the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
King says Maher will be honoured at the beginning of next season.
