BROADCASTER CHRIS CUTHBERT GOT HIS START IN KINGSTON

When Chris Cuthbert came to Kingston to attend Queen’s University, he expected to become a history teacher. While he’d always dreamed of being a sportscaster, that just didn’t seem like a realistic path.

Then a series of fortunate events happened.

These included a chance to call the Queen’s Gaels football play-by-play on CFRC Radio, a local television break provided by legendary Kingston broadcaster Max Jackson and a 45-second clip on a Toronto radio station.

It would culminate in a four-decade career (so far) that has seen Cuthbert announce Grey Cup games, Stanley Cup finals, Olympic gold medals and countless regular season Hockey Night in Canada matches.

Perhaps his most famous call of all: The Golden Goal by Sidney Crosby at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, which saw Canada defeat the United States 3-2 in overtime. More about that in a moment.

It all started in 1978. The Queen’s Gaels football team, led by renowned coach Doug Hargreaves, was a powerhouse. Cuthbert signed up to be one of several students to call the play-by-play on the student radio station.

For his first game, he doesn’t recall who Queen’s was playing or the score. But he does remember one thing. “At that initial Queen’s football game, I could tell this is what I was meant to do. I suddenly realized that I have this outlet and maybe it could take me where I wanted to go.”

The Queen’s squad was drawing national interest – it would eventually go on to win the Vanier Cup that year by defeating the UBC Thunderbirds 16-3. Following a regular season game in Kingston, Cuthbert called CFRB radio in Toronto and asked if they would air a game report if he called it in. They agreed – if it was high quality.

Cuthbert’s clip was only 45 seconds and aired just once – on the 11:28 pm Saturday night sports report. But he was hooked. “When that report ran, I knew I was going to be in the business,” he recalls.

After that, he approached CKWS sports director Max Jackson about filing stories on Queen’s athletics. Jackson was run off his feet covering local sports and calling Kingston Canadians games. “He was happy to have someone at Queen’s doing reports for him,” says Cuthbert.

He eventually landed a weekend gig at CKWS, reporting on both local and national sports. After stints in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and Montreal, he was invited to call his first NHL game in October 1984.

It was a blur. “I remember almost none of it,” he recalls of the contest between the Quebec Nordiques and the Calgary Flames.

Over the years, a top highlight was that gold medal match at the Vancouver Olympics. At the end of regulation, Canada and the United States were tied and he was uncertain what the format was for Olympic overtime.

Even though he didn’t know who would score, he planned the call during the intermission. “I was thinking to myself that if this was soccer the next goal would be called the golden goal. I decided I was going to use that.”

“I’m not sure I would have called it the golden goal if it was an American goal. We’re supposed to be unbiased but in these moments you’re certainly hoping it’s going to go the right way if you’re a Canadian broadcaster.”

In the last couple of years, he has started to shy away from social media due to the incessant complaints from viewers who think he’s against their team. “I get it from both sides. Fans think I hate the Leafs and others think I love the Leafs – all in the same game.”

On air, Cuthbert makes it look easy. In fact, he puts in about eight hours of preparation for every game, compiling notes on the players and looking for story lines. It’s a team effort, with the producers, statisticians and colour commentator all pitching ideas. Plus, he get in an all-important afternoon nap before an evening game.

He’s looking forward to calling next month’s Four Nations Cup, which will feature national teams from Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden. Hockey powerhouse Russia was not invited due to its ongoing attack on the Ukraine.

“It’s not a full best on best without Russia, but I understand why that’s not happening,” he laments.

With goalies like Connor Hellebuyck, the American team may have an edge, Cuthbert acknowledges. Canada just doesn’t seem to have anyone who matches Hellebuyck’s puck-stopping prowess.

After a storied and lengthy career, he has just one more dream. “I hope before it’s over, I will get to call a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup,” he says. Millions of Canadian fans hope so too.