Toronto Maple Leafs announce plans for a major Joe Bowen tribute

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday how they will be honouring Joe Bowen during his final season on the mic.

On Dec. 16, in a home matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks, Bowen will get his very own tribute game as part of his send-off season.

Back in June, the longtime Leafs play-by-play announcer announced that the 2025-26 season would be his last with the team. Having previously worked on the team’s television broadcasts, he’s currently the radio voice for both TSN’s and Sportsnet’s calls of the games.

“Nobody represents the passion of Leafs Nation better than Joe Bowen and his signature voice has been the soundtrack for so many iconic moments for the team over the past 44 years,” said Toronto general manager Brad Treliving in a release. “We look forward to celebrating Joe all season but especially making December 16 a very special tribute to the man known as the ‘voice of the Maple Leafs.’”

How long has Bowen been calling Leafs games?

Bowen made his debut as a play-by-play commentator for the Leafs in 1982, first calling a game against the Blackhawks on Oct. 6. He has called over 3,700 games, and will work his 3,800th midway through the upcoming season.

In recent seasons, he’d been taking things one year at a time, often being mum about his plans until late in the offseason.

“For 44 years I have had the greatest broadcasting job in the world,” said Bowen. “I truly have never “worked” a day since arriving in Toronto to do Maple Leaf Hockey. I am very much looking forward to this final season and hoping that maybe, just maybe, this is the ONE [year they win the Stanley Cup]!!”