Ron MacLean
Ronald Joseph MacLean (born
April 12,
1960, in
Zweibrücken,
Germany) is a
Canadian sportscaster for the
CBC who is best known as the host of
Hockey Night in Canada.
MacLean's father was stationed in Germany as a communications officer in the
Royal Canadian Air Force when MacLean was born, but 14 months later the family moved back to Canada, and he grew up in
Chester, Nova Scotia, and
Red Deer, Alberta.
In addition to his work at the CBC, MacLean is a Level 5 referee with
Hockey Canada. He has refereed in junior, minor pro, senior, and university leagues across Canada, but mostly in the
Southern Ontario region. His interest in refereeing extends to his career in broadcasting.
MacLean was named an Honorary Colonel for the 1 Air Movements Squadron at 17 Wing Winnipeg of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
His broadcasting career began in
1978 at CKRD radio in
Red Deer, Alberta. He later worked as a weatherman in
Calgary, Alberta by CFAC, a TV station, and eventually went on to broadcast games of the
NHL's
Calgary Flames in
1984 at the same TV station. Two years later he was hired by the CBC to work on Hockey Night in Canada.
Besides hosting HNIC, MacLean has worked the
Olympic Games, the
Commonwealth Games,
Canadian Skins Game,
IAAF World Championships in Athletics, and the
Calgary Stampede for the CBC. He has also covered international hockey (
World Cup of Hockey and the
Olympic hockey) competition for the CBC, as well as its annual
Hockey Day in Canada broadcast and the
NHL Awards ceremony. He has also done freelance reporting for NBC in the USA.
MacLean has been named the top sportscaster in Canada on numerous occasions and has received six
Gemini Awards.
During the
2004-05 NHL lockout, MacLean hosted
Movie Night in Canada, which replaced
Hockey Night in Canada.
MacLean has hosted
Hockey Night in Canada since
1986. His knowledge and enthusiasm for hockey have made him extremely popular with viewers. Part of his duties include hosting
Coach's Corner with the controversial
Don Cherry where he is noted for moderating Cherry's extreme style.
He almost left the network in
2002 during a contract dispute that made headlines across Canada. Following a huge public outcry, the CBC quickly gave in to his demands, demonstrating how popular he had become in Canada.
MacLean has been recognized with seven Gemini Awards for his work with CBC.
He and his wife, Cari, live in
Oakville, Ontario.
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CBC Personalities - Ron MacLean
