Peter Maher Memories

[Iceman90]

We're going to be recording our next Fireside Chat episode on Thursday, and chatting about our thoughts on Peter Maher's retirement.

We'd love to share the sentiments of the C of Red about Maher. If you have a memory or story you'd like to share, please do so here. We hope we can share the best of them on the our next episode.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm pretty sure all of us have a memory of listening to him as a youngster on our AM clock radio well past bedtime. With the volume turned down enough so your parents couldn't hear. Yet you could see everything happening in your mind because of Peter's amazing broadcasting. I never had the pleasure of meeting him. But any time I remember my childhood hockey memories, Peter Maher's voice is what I hear.

[Locke]

Peter Maher was synonymous with the Flames for me. He's been the Voice of the Calgary Flames for my entire life.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Locke

Peter Maher was synonymous with the Flames for me. He's been the Voice of the Calgary Flames for my entire life.

To me, he will probably always be the voice of the Flames. I feel bad for the next guy, who has to try and fill Peter's shoes. He will forever be compared to Peter.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

To me, he will probably always be the voice of the Flames. I feel bad for the next guy, who has to try and fill Peter's shoes. He will forever be compared to Peter.

Its probably going to be Loubo, but yeah, thats going to be a really tough gig.

[liamenator]

Thanks for starting this thread, was going to post this in the presser thread, but it's more suitable here.

Bizarrely, the Peter Maher memory that sticks out most for me was his call of the most forgettable, nothing game you can imagine. It was in March or early April of 2001, the Flames had long since been eliminated from playoff contention--again--and so there was nothing to play for and no real reason to listen. But, being young and contrarian, I was among a small group that decided to take a break from whatever party we were at to cram into a Honda Civic to listen to the third period of the Flames game against Minnesota or Columbus or some other doormat team.

I look back and I marvel at the professionalism and enthusiasm Peter demonstrated during that game--which was pretty close to the nadir of those 7 years in the wilderness--and so many others like it. The genuine excitement of his call when the Flames scored late to tie the game was infectious, and so we hooted and hollered and honked the horn, reveling in the exhilaration of fandom, if only for a few minutes. Imagining what it might be like to have more moments like this.

There was something special about those calls during the dark years. Being a Flames fan felt almost like being in small, secret, super uncool club. A Flames fan was not a hip thing to be for those of us who were just a bit too young to really have been a part of the 1989 run, but a bit too old to not have cynically soured on the 'Shames' as so many had. Peter's calls legitimated your excitement and encouraged your support. Forgive the melodrama, but that voice was an anchor. Its familiarity preserved some of the aura of the heady days of the past, and its enthusiasm offered the faintest glimmer of hope that they may yet return.

That's what Peter Maher did, every game night for 35 years. He conjured up magic, no matter how meaningless a goal or a game, he made you feel like you were right there, at ice level, amidst a roaring crowd. And so when I actually found myself amidst those surreal, teeming crowds of 2004, I thought about Peter Maher a lot. I thought about how satisfying it must have been for him to see the team finally manufacture some of that magic he had so generously and dutifully conjured for us, on the radio, for all those years.

[CedarMeter]

I remember as a little kid I had my portable radio hidden under my pillow cause the Flames game went late and I was suppose to be sound asleep. I've listening to him since I was 6 years old. I'll sure miss him.

[Wolfman]

You know you're a big deal when you have 3 threads on CP. Sad day for Flames fans and those who listened to Peter for 3 decades. He will be missed and I wish him a great retirement. Like he said in his press conference, it's time to move on and spend time with is family. The man gave his life to radio and Flames fans, and for that I am forever grateful.

Good Luck Mr. Maher

YEEEEAAAAHHHHH BAAAAABBBBYYY

[puckluck2]

One game that stands out to me is when we were down 5-0 to a team I can't even remember. I was around 9 or 10 years old and we came back to win the game. His goal calls were something that always stuck in my head. I was listening in the car as we tied it and just remember the pure joy in his voice. That day has always stuck with me as a Flames fan.

[J79]

I've shared my thoughts on here, and I'm sure it's the same for most European fans.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...&postcount=149

When you're a fan of hockey in a non-hockey country you have no one to share your passion with. No one to talk to about the team. No one to share the thoughts, celebrate the victories or go through the pain of a loss.
I remember running around with a chair above my head after Gelinas OT winner against Detroit in 04. You do some crazy stuff if you can't high-five somebody

Peter Maher did a tremendous job making you feel your part of the game.
Passion, knowledge and accuracy.
He made me feel like I was at the game. That I was a Calgarian.

Remember this audio clip from 2004?
It's always on my iPhone. Such good memories, such a wonderful commentator.

https://soundcloud.com/user67057556/...-2004-playoffs

(hope the link works, I've never uploaded a thing in my life :-))

[SoulOfTheFlame]

So very many... If I have to pick something it's when I was 17, I Had the worst job of my life, working nights, cleaning the meat dept. at Superstore in Saskatoon. There were no MP3 players then, but my shifts got a whole lot brighter when the Flames were having a game night and I could catch the broadcast on a 15$ pocket radio I bought.

I'll always owe the guy for getting me through those long, boring nights.

Also my experience with Pete is a bit different than most I guess, as since spending most of my adult life in australia/asia I am used to hearing him call games at around 10am my time!

[drewtastic]

As someone posted in the other thread, it's another part of my childhood gone. Peter Maher is without doubt one of the greatest PBP announcers in NHL history and we have all been fortunate to have him affiliated with our team for its entire Calgary existence. His voice is ingrained in my Flames' heart.

I have WAY too many memories to list, but here's a few, in random order:

-listening to him on QR77 with my Dad in our basement, me ripping around firing tennis balls into the net, pretending I was John Tonelli (seriously).
-the way he pronounced "Western" as "Westren" ("Westren Conference Champions")
-the entire 2004 run
-the 'trouble' he got into with his 'Maritimer' pronunciation of 'Blake Comeau'
-my Dad taping (on audio cassette!) the final 10 minutes plus celebration of the Stanley Cup victory in 1989
-'Tonight! Live! From the ... Saddledome!"
-'Yeah Baby!' (obviously)
-overhearing him at a Flames training camp and, while other media reporters mocked German Titov's and his last name, Maher being the one to say that Titov would make it to the NHL (He did. And became one of my favourite Flames)
-getting to shake his hand at a STH 'behind the scenes' thing and tell him how much my father and I have appreciated all his work--and his predictably humble and self-depricating response, thanking us in return.

Thank you, Mr. Maher! You will be missed!

[habernac]

I think there was only one time where I actually had the pleasure of listening to Maher call an entire game (listened to countless parts of broadcasts driving, etc) as I didn't grow up here. That one time was during the big ice storm in November a few years ago. Took me 5 hours to drive from Southland Drive to North Calgary. Loved every minute of it.

[edn88]

Listening to him do games was great, but I think I loved his Flames Insider segments the best. He always was well connected and I enjoyed his insite.

On a personal level, I got to meet Peter during one of the first Top Shelf experiences that was being promoted by the fan. While we were having dinner he came down and talk to us - he seemed like the kind of guy you could just sit and talk hockey with over a beer.

[Schraderbrau]

A couple of thing that stand out for me when I think of Peter Maher

The amount of respect that he gets not only from the media or the Flames Management but from the actual players. I don’t think it is that common in todays professional sport environment to see the players give respect like that to the media types but Peter got respect from all of them and he deserved it.

The amount of respect that Peter has given to the game of hockey and the Flames organization. During his press conference today when he was commenting on being able to be part of the NHL and the Flames you could tell how proud he was to have been given the opportunity that he received and that he was great full for every second of it.

And we can’t forget Yeah Baby. That overtime call against the Red Wings in the 2004 playoff run has to be one of the greatest sports calls I have every had the pleasure of listening to. Simply perfect.

[OzSome]

Back in the 80s, it was Peter Maher doing Play-by-Play and Doug Barkley as his color commentator. The best tandem and they were absolutely awesome doing Every Flames game. Then on TV, we have Ed Whalen. Calgarians were so fortunate to have the best PBP. Good luck Peter Maher and we will definitely miss you.

[Tailgator]

I've been listening to his broadcasts for year and years and have never once thought he was "off his game" as it was always awesome! Consumate pro game in and game out. I've had a few dealings with Pete and I was always impressed how he remembered me and people I introduced to him. He always had time for everyone, no matter who they were and I still don't think he realizes how popular he is.
My favourite memory (out of too many to count), was during the time he was being profiled for the special series on game callers the NHL Network was doing a few years ago. He had a camera crew following him all over the place and seemed a bit uncomfortable with all the attention. I was at the dome for some business and went into the stands while the Flames were practicing and saw all this happening. What was amazing to me is both how humble he was, and how many people came up to talk to him and tell him how much he deserved it! GM's, coaches, the general public - and he treated everyone like they were a buddy. Gonna miss him and will have a tough time not tearing up whenever I hear "Forever Young".

[Huntingwhale]

I thought it was really classy of Peter last year during Iggy's goodbye press conference that he stood up and just said something like ''Thank you Iggy, from all of Calgary''. Peter really is not only the voice of the Flames, but of Calgary. Gonna miss him.

[CliffFletcher]

When I was a journalism student in the early 90s, I went to the Saddledome to do an interview with Robert Reichel on a practice day. The PR flack told me where to wait for practice to end, and then I stood there feeling kind of awed and out of place. The local print beat reporters eyed me with suspicion and contempt. It was pretty uncomfortable.

Then Maher walked by, stopped when he saw I was a new face, and introduced himself. Shook my hand. Asked who I was writing for, and who I was interviewing. Then said 'good luck' and went on his way with a smile on his face. That 30 seconds out of his day made a callow young student feel so much more at ease.

[Iceman90]

I was lucky enough to sit down with Beesley this week to get his memories for this week's show! What great stories he tells about Pete. I wish I had the pleasure to meet Peter during his career.