Foster Hewitt “He shoots, he scores!”

“Hello Canada…”: A Visit to Foster Hewitt’s Grave

On my walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came across the grave of a man whose voice once echoed through living rooms across the country — the legendary Foster Hewitt, the original voice of Hockey Night in Canada.

For over forty years, Hewitt brought the game to life with his play-by-play broadcasts from the now-famous gondolaperched in the rafters of Maple Leaf Gardens. His calls defined an era of hockey when fans tuned in religiously on Saturday nights, radios crackling, families gathered.

Though retired, Foster returned to the booth in 1972 for one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sports history — the Summit Series. It was there he delivered his unforgettable call of Paul Henderson’s game-winning goal against the Soviet Union, a moment still etched in the national memory.

Foster wasn’t just a broadcaster; he was a builder. In 1965, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his pioneering contributions to the game. He also helped shape the future of Canadian radio by founding 1430 CKFH — his initials proudly in the call sign. That station would eventually evolve into CJCL The Fan, Canada’s first all-sports radio station.

Foster Hewitt passed away in Toronto on April 21, 1985, at the age of 82. But his voice still lingers in the hearts of those who remember his famous opening line:

“Hello Canada, and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland…”

1902-1985

Fall 2025 visit to Foster Hewitt’s grave overtaken by elephant grass.