For Tuesday night’s home game versus the Blackhawks, Joe Bowen has been invited down from his familiar broadcast booth above Scotiabank Arena to be celebrated at the centre ice dot.

The turning of the calendar year will start a countdown to his retirement as the 44-year voice of the Maple Leafs, and he’ll be officially honoured by the team prior to Toronto hosting the Blackhawks. Bowen, 74, worked his first game on Oct. 6, 1982, at Chicago Stadium. J oe’s son David, a budding broadcaster with the OHL Sudbury Wolves, will work Tuesday’s game while Bowen rests his lungs.

The asked a range of Toronto hockey personalities for a favourite Bowen call or personal memory:

STEVEN LORENTZ , Leaf winger: “I’ll start with the easy one, ‘Holy Mackinaw’. You get to hear that a lot and it’s a treat.

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