‘I’m really shocked at the response’

Truth be told, Scott Oake wanted what is commonly known as an Irish goodbye.

The veteran Winnipeg broadcaster had hoped to keep his retirement to himself until sometime this summer, then casually let it slip he wouldn’t be returning in the fall for another season on Hockey Night in Canada.

No fuss. No muss. A quick fade to black.

“I had hoped to go out quietly, but I’m to blame for what’s going on,” Oake told the Free Press with a laugh. “You know, I told a few people, word got around and here we are.”

His bosses at Sportsnet had other ideas, wanting Oake to be celebrated — even if briefly — for the legend he is. And so, on Saturday night in Edmonton, Oake wrapped up his popular After Hours segment by telling viewers from coast-to-coast-to-coast the clock was rapidly running out on his career.

Hilariously, a miscommunication — or, more likely, a convenient “mistake” by a producer — made the moment even bigger. Oake had suggested a simple drum roll sound effect before his on-air announcement. Instead, the network rolled out a full-blown marching band, adding plenty of pomp and circumstance.

His phone blew up. The accolades started rolling in. And Oake has been left shaking his head.

“This is all highly overdone. You know, I abhor these long farewell tours. I don’t want to be the centre of attention,” he said.

“You know, I’ve been joking with people that I actually retired two years ago. I just never told anyone.”

The 72-year-old, who became a household name to Winnipeggers during his decade-long run on CBC’s 24 Hours program (1979–1989) before shifting to the country’s flagship hockey broadcast for the past 37 years, is applying the theory that all good things must come to an end.

“My insurance agent has an expression that 70 is the new 60. A lot of people are living longer and taking care of themselves, right? But when you’re 80, you’re 80. And there’s no way out of it,” said Oake.

“This summer, I’ll turn seven years away from 80, and I want to enjoy those years with my grandchildren and devoting myself to the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre and the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, which is the project that’s moving full steam ahead now. Both places will take up a lot of my time. That’s my passion, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“This is all highly overdone. You know, I abhor these long farewell tours.”

Oake’s son, Bruce, died in 2011 of a heroin overdose at the age of 25. The Hamilton Avenue facility that bears his name is a non-profit, 50-bed residential treatment program that opened in 2021. His wife, Anne, died in 2021 at the age of 65. The 75-bed facility in her name will be a women’s-only addictions treatment centre with a daycare near Victoria General Hospital.

Oake admits both personal tragedies gave him a new perspective on life, including how he wants to spend his remaining days.

“I take my job seriously. I’m responsible. But it’s not as important as the work being done at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre and the work that will be done at the Anne Oake Recovery Centre. Lives are truly being saved,” he said.

“You know, pretty much from the start of this season, I was thinking about whether or not I would come back. But I made the decision and this time, for the first time in five years, I stood behind it. I’m really shocked at the response. I guess if I realized I was that important in the minds of so many people….I still would have retired!”

Oake has clearly struck a chord with viewers by hosting After Hours since the 2000-01 NHL season. It follows the second game of the Saturday night doubleheader and typically features an in-depth sit-down with a player, coach or manager.

It can be humorous. Poignant. Emotional.

“Hopefully people learn something about the guests they didn’t know before.”

“The goal of the show has always been to move past the nuts and bolts of hockey, you know, the ‘get pucks deep’ stuff. Sometimes, we don’t even mention the game at all,” he said.

“Hopefully people learn something about the guests they didn’t know before. I think, on that level, the show has generally succeeded. But everything runs its course.”

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey recalled growing up in Calgary and staying up late with his family to watch the HNIC doubleheader, which always included the nightcap featuring Oake and his guest. It was appointment viewing in his home.

“He’s just incredible,” said Morrissey, who marvels at the way Oake gets his subjects to open up in ways you’ll almost never see in traditional scrums.

Years later, Morrissey was thrilled to be the player sitting across from Oake on live television as he made his After Hours debut in his sophomore NHL season — a true “pinch-me” moment.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel has a close connection to Oake dating to the early 1980s, when he was a member of the original Jets.

“Scott is a walking masterclass in how to do the job, with personal grace to match.”

“He was my neighbour, didn’t live too far away from me. You talk about Hockey Night in Canada, turning games on and you see familiar faces. He’s been one that an awful lot of people have been able to recognize,” said Arniel.

“Obviously with his son, with what happened with all of that, just recognizing the work that he’s put in, the awareness for mental health, all those things: He’s been through some tough times, and it’s amazing, he always weathered it. He’s a true professional. It’s tough to see him go.”

Jon Morosi, a U.S. broadcaster who primarily covers MLB, posted the following on social media this week: “Coaches watch game film. Players practice their craft. Well, I have studied how Scott Oake does his job — the careful phrasing of a question, the diligent research that leads to the right detail in a clinching interview.

“Scott is a walking masterclass in how to do the job, with personal grace to match.”

One of Oake’s all-time favourite guests was former tough guy Brian McGrattan, who candidly opened up about his battle with addiction during a memorable segment years ago and has since done work with the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.

Another is his good family friend and former neighbour, Winnipegger Ryan Reaves, who plays for the San Jose Sharks.

“Let’s put it this way: Everything I did was a violation of workplace safety.”

“He grew up kitty-corner to our house. He was a good friend of both Bruce and Darcy (Oake’s other son, a magician). They have remained close. Darcy was the best man at his wedding. I emceed his wedding. I’m fond of telling Ryan on occasion that his wedding would have been a disaster without our family,” said Oake.

Fittingly, Reaves will be Oake’s final guest on his final show this Saturday from San Jose following their game against Vancouver.

Another personal highlight was covering his hometown Jets during their magical 2018 run to the Western Conference final. Who can forget the image of Oake among “my people” outside Canada Life Centre during the massive Whiteout street party, standing on a makeshift platform above a sea of humanity?

“I remember standing on the platform, which was a packing crate with a piece of plywood on top of it. If I had shifted the wrong way, I was going to go flying into that crowd. Let’s put it this way: Everything I did was a violation of workplace safety,” he said.

“But that was so neat. And, as it turned out, the conference final was against Vegas and Ryan Reaves scored the goal that knocked the Jets out.”

Oake isn’t quite done after this weekend. He plans to work at least one round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and would love to see the Jets claim the final wild-card spot so he can have one last hurrah at home.

What’s he going to miss the most?

“It’s the same as when a player has to leave the game. What’s he always say? I’m going to miss the guys, right? So there’s that, the camaraderie of our crew, which is so good,” said Oake.

“Getting together with them for dinner the night before the game. The day of the game, there’s a real buzz leading up to getting on the air and doing something that you think is good work. There’s a sense of satisfaction. And then meeting after the game for some refreshments, which we often refer to as show erasers.”

Oake may not be getting the silent send-off he had hoped for, but after decades of telling other people’s stories, it’s only fitting that his own is being told so loudly.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre