Donald Earle Clement (March 29, 1929 – December 12, 1993) was an American ice hockey announcer for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.
Earle was born Donald Earle Clement in Somerville, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dedham High School in Dedham, Massachusetts.[1] He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1951 and was a journalist. He graduated from Grahm Junior College in 1954. He began his broadcasting career with WBET in Brockton, Massachusetts and later worked for another Brockton station - WOKW.[2] He then moved to WKOX in Framingham, Massachusetts, where he called high school hockey games.[1]
In 1967, Earle was chosen from relative obscurity to become WSBK-TV's announcer for Boston Bruins games.[1][3] He called Bruins games during one of the club's most successful periods, which included winning the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals. Due to the team's success and the high number of games aired on WSBK, Earle became a high-profile sportscaster in Boston, however, according to Jack Craig of The Boston Globe, he was also the most criticized.[4] In 1971, Earle was loudly booed by Bruins fans while presenting Channel 38's 7th Player Award.[5] He was let go by WSBK-TV at the end of the season.[6] From 1971 to 1977, Earle served as a second play by play announcer/analyst with the Philadelphia Flyers on WTAF alongside Gene Hart.[7]
After his dismissal from the Flyers, Earle worked as a freelance sportscaster, calling games for the Colorado Rockies and the North American Soccer League. He returned to Massachusetts in 1981.[8] From 1982 to 1985, he was a sports anchor for WGGB-TV in Springfield, Massachusetts.[9][10] Earle spent his later years in Westfield, Massachusetts. He died on December 12, 1993.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Sportscaster Don Earle, voice of '67-'71 Boston Bruins; at 64", The Boston Globe, December 15, 1993.
- ↑ "Don Earle: Bruins Broadcasters", The Day, December 16, 1993.
- ↑ "Sports Roundup", The Boston Globe, July 18, 1967.
- ↑ "Don Earle talks...and fans react", The Boston Globe, April 12, 1970.
- ↑ "7th man out", The Boston Globe, March 11, 1988.
- ↑ "More hockey due here next year", The Boston Globe, May 14, 1972.
- ↑ "Philly Flyers Fire Announcer", Gettysburg Times, May 26, 1977.
- ↑ "Don Earle: Returning home", The Boston Globe, August 23, 1981.
- ↑ "Familiar voice blasts bosses", The Boston Globe, March 14, 1982.
- ↑ "Ash (sic) The Globe - Sports", The Boston Globe, March 22, 1987.
External links[]
NHL on CBS | |||||||
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Related programs | CBS Sports Spectacular - NHL on RKO General - Olympics on CBS - WHA on CBS | ||||||
Related articles | History of the NHL on US TV )1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - Stanley Cup Finals television ratings) | ||||||
Commentators | All-Star Game - Stanley Cup playoffs (Original Six era) - Stanley Cup Finals - American television | ||||||
Current figures |
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Stanley Cup Finals | 1967 (Games 2, 5) - 1968 (Games 1, 4) - 1969 (Games 1, 4) - 1970 (Games 1, 4) - 1971 - (Games 3, 6, 7) - 1972 (Games 1, 4, 6) - 1980 (Game 6) | ||||||
All-Star Game | 1970 - 1971 - 1972 - 1979 (Challenge Cup) (Game 2, third period only) | ||||||
Lore | 1967 NHL expansion - Super Series '76 (Soviet Wings/Buffalo Sabres)
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