Brian McFarlane
Encyclopedia
Brian McFarlane is a Canadian
television sportscaster
and author. He is also the Honorary President of the Society for International Hockey Research
. He is the son of the prolific writer Leslie McFarlane
who wrote many of the early Hardy Boys books.
in Canton, New York
, on a hockey scholarship, graduating in 1955. In his four years he scored 101 goals for the Skating Saints
, which remains a St. Lawrence record. On three occasions, he scored five goals in a game, a school record shared with several others.
After graduating, he worked in television at WRGB
in Schenectady, New York
, before moving to CFCF-TV
in Montreal, Quebec (where he was sports director) and CFTO in Toronto, Ontario. He had a lengthy career in broadcasting and journalism.
for 25 years. He made similar broadcasts on NHL
games for the major American networks CBS
and NBC and has written more than 50 books on hockey. McFarlane is an expert on hockey history and has compiled several volumes of NHL lore titled "It Happened in Hockey," as well as a 1999 series detailing the colorful history of the Original Six
NHL teams. His memoirs, published by Stoddart Publishing in 2000
, are entitled Brian McFarlane's World of Hockey.
McFarlane was also a colour commentator on Toronto Maple Leafs
local telecasts until 1980, when he made on-air comments that were critical of Leafs owner Harold Ballard
. He was subsequently banned from the Maple Leaf Gardens
press box. For Hockey Night in Canada, he was moved off Toronto games at this point.
. The cartoon puck, which appeared on both NBC's Hockey Game of the Week and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
during the 1970s, was actually the creation of NBC executive Donald Carswell. After the network stopped carrying NHL hockey, McFarlane purchased the rights to Peter Puck from NBC's production partner, Hanna-Barbera
.
, and it now comprises most of Total Hockey, a multi-media, interactive museum located at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville.
McFarlane currently resides in the Toronto
area.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and author. He is also the Honorary President of the Society for International Hockey Research
Society for International Hockey Research
The Society for International Hockey Research is a network of writers, statisticians, collectors, broadcasters, academics and ice hockey buffs. The Society, based in Toronto, Canada, has an international membership. The Society cultivates and encourages the study of ice hockey...
. He is the son of the prolific writer Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane was a Canadian journalist, novelist, screenwriter and filmmaker. McFarlane is most famous for ghostwriting many of the early books in the very successful Hardy Boys series using the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.- Early life :The son of a school principal, McFarlane was raised in...
who wrote many of the early Hardy Boys books.
Early life and career
Brian McFarlane attended St. Lawrence UniversitySt. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
in Canton, New York
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
, on a hockey scholarship, graduating in 1955. In his four years he scored 101 goals for the Skating Saints
Skating Saints
The Skating Saints of St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York, is part of the Division-I ECAC ice hockey league. The University hosts both a men's and women's ice hockey program.Since 1951, the Skating Saints' home arena has been Appleton Arena...
, which remains a St. Lawrence record. On three occasions, he scored five goals in a game, a school record shared with several others.
After graduating, he worked in television at WRGB
WRGB
WRGB, channel 6, is a television station located in Schenectady, New York, USA. WRGB is owned by Freedom Communications, and is the CBS affiliate for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy television market...
in Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, before moving to CFCF-TV
CFCF-TV
CFCF-DT is a CTV-owned and operated station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
in Montreal, Quebec (where he was sports director) and CFTO in Toronto, Ontario. He had a lengthy career in broadcasting and journalism.
National Hockey League broadcasting
He is perhaps best known as a commentator on Hockey Night in CanadaHockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
for 25 years. He made similar broadcasts on NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games for the major American networks CBS
NHL on CBS
NHL on CBS is a former television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on CBS Sports. CBS was the first American television network to broadcast NHL games.-1956–1960 version:...
and NBC and has written more than 50 books on hockey. McFarlane is an expert on hockey history and has compiled several volumes of NHL lore titled "It Happened in Hockey," as well as a 1999 series detailing the colorful history of the Original Six
Original Six
The Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. These six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the...
NHL teams. His memoirs, published by Stoddart Publishing in 2000
2000 in literature
The year 2000 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* February 13 - Final original Peanuts comic strip is published...
, are entitled Brian McFarlane's World of Hockey.
McFarlane was also a colour commentator on Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
local telecasts until 1980, when he made on-air comments that were critical of Leafs owner Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard
Harold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
. He was subsequently banned from the Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
press box. For Hockey Night in Canada, he was moved off Toronto games at this point.
Peter Puck connection
McFarlane is often incorrectly cited as the creator of the cartoon character Peter PuckPeter Puck
Peter Puck is a hockey puck-shaped cartoon character. The puck, whose animated adventures appeared on both NBC's Hockey Game of the Week and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada during the 1970s, explained ice hockey rules, equipment and the sport's history to the home viewing audience...
. The cartoon puck, which appeared on both NBC's Hockey Game of the Week and CBC's Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
during the 1970s, was actually the creation of NBC executive Donald Carswell. After the network stopped carrying NHL hockey, McFarlane purchased the rights to Peter Puck from NBC's production partner, Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
.
Personal life
In 2006, Brian sold much of his hockey collection to the Municipality of ClaringtonClarington, Ontario
Clarington is a municipality in Ontario, Canada in the Regional Municipality of Durham. It took its present name in 1994 after having been known as the Town of Newcastle from 1974-93. The name change was made to alleviate long-standing confusion between the municipality as a whole and the included...
, and it now comprises most of Total Hockey, a multi-media, interactive museum located at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville.
McFarlane currently resides in the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area.
Achievements
- 1995 inducted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
. - Admitted into the Ontario Sports Legends Hall of Fame.
- Admitted into the Ottawa Sports Legends Hall of Fame.
- Admitted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame.
- Admitted into the St. Lawrence University Hall of Fame.