Longtime Vancouver Canucks PA announcer John Ashbridge dead at 71

The Vancouver Canucks say longtime public address announcer John Ashbridge has died at the age of 71.

Ashbridge began working with the Canucks in 1987 and continued to work with the team and the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League until recently.

During his time with the Canucks, Ashbridge worked during two Stanley Cup final appearances, travelled with the team to Japan, and provided public address duties for the 1998 NHL All-Star Game.

He was also the PA announcer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games at Canada Hockey Place.

Watch this profile of John Ashbridge by CBC reporter Tim Weekes from 2011:

Voice of the Canucks

14 years ago

Duration 1:45

The CBC's Tim Weekes profiles John Ashbridge, who has been announcing the goals and the penalties for Vancouver Canucks' games since 1987

Before he became associated with sports, Ashbridge got his start in the newsroom at CKNW.

John McKitrick worked beside him for most of his 40 years at the radio station as an assignment editor and remembers Ashbridge as an upbeat team player who was always ready to fill in at a moment's notice.

"It is a grind and there are times when things aren't going well, but you'd never know it with him," he told Stephen Quinn, host of CBC's The Early Edition.

CBC sports and news reporter Karin Larsen remembers the first time she heard the legendary announcer's voice in person when he introduced himself outside the Canucks dressing room.

"That meant so much to me at that moment in my career when I was just starting out, that John Ashbridge knew who I was and said hi to me," she said.

His calm, collected and positive demeanour was reflected in his announcing and Larsen said his voice became the "soundtrack for the Vancouver Canucks." 

Tributes pour in

"The Canucks are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of John Ashbridge," said a team statement posted on Twitter.

"He was a part of our family for many years. His voice and cheerful presence will be greatly missed and forever remembered."

Trevor Linden, player-turned-president of hockey operations for the Canucks, said he remembers the "booming voice of God" when he stepped onto the ice Pacific Coliseum for the first time in 1988.

"John's voice was synonymous with Canucks hockey," said Linden, who played on the team for 16 years.

"As a player, John made the game special," he added. "For the odd time, John wasn't doing the game, it was like 'Hey, something's not right here.'"

Linden said he's learned more about Ashbridge visiting with old friends since his death.

"John had such an amazing sense of humour and sarcasm about him and he was such a caring person," Linden said.

"Those stories are being told now. All the fans, including myself to some degree, who knew John's voice but didn't know him as well as they may have wanted — they're now hearing those stories too."

The Vancouver Giants also posted a tribute on Twitter, which called Ashbridge the "voice of hockey in Vancouver."

"A remarkable man who was loved and respected by everyone he interacted with," the statement said.

Listen to tributes to John Ashbridge by John McKitrick and Karin Larsen:

With files from The Early Edition and CBC Vancouver News at 6