from John Shannon of Sportsnet,
For the past few decades, the Hockey Hall of Fame has recognized the work of great broadcasters through the Foster Hewitt Award. Many quality broadcasters have been recipients including Danny Gallivan, Rene Lecavalier, Bob Cole, Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Sam Rosen and this year’s winner, Joe Bowen. Many others are deserving of this recognition. However, under the award’s current criteria, Hodge and MacLean are not eligible to win the award. Through some rather illogical decision, the award can only go to broadcasters who have been in the broadcast booth. Play-by-play people or colour analysts. No hosts.
But something should change because the business has changed. The complexity of the hockey broadcasting business has changed, and people like Hodge and MacLean should be recognized for their contributions to the business. There are others, like Don Cherry and Howie Meeker, who under the current rules, cannot win the Hewitt Award. That really is a shame. And again, something has to change.
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