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Maple Leafs Honor Voice Joe Bowen on 'Holy Mackinaw Night' as Late Rally Sinks Blackhawks

The tribute launched a season-long celebration of the 44-year play-by-play mainstay, featuring family participation, charity merchandise plus a broadcast called by his son David.

Overview

  • Pre-game honors at Scotiabank Arena included a ceremonial puck drop with Bowen’s family and gifts from GM Brad Treliving, among them a No. 44 jersey, a golden microphone and the game sheet from Bowen’s first call.
  • Holy Mackinaw shirts and special concessions were sold with a portion of proceeds benefiting the SickKids Foundation, and fans could meet Bowen through the NHL’s Fan Access program.
  • Bowen took the night off so his youngest son, David, could handle play-by-play alongside Jim Ralph for the Maple LeafsBlackhawks broadcast.
  • Toronto defeated Chicago 3–2 after scoring twice in eight seconds late in the third period, with Auston Matthews tying it on a power play and Dakota Joshua netting the winner off a Troy Stecher setup following Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s earlier goal.
  • Players and staff praised Bowen’s impact on the organization, and the team said tributes will continue throughout his final season ahead of his planned retirement after 2025–26.