Tom Larscheid Tom Larscheid ( born April 6 , 1940 ) is a former Vancouver - based radio sports broadcaster and football player . After a career playing college and CFL football , he was the colour commentator for the CFL ' s BC Lions and the NHL ' s Vancouver Canucks for many years . After 45 years in broadcasting and covering the Canucks for 27 seasons , he retired on October 9 , 2010 after doing one last game , the 2010 - 11 season opener . Early life and sports career . Born April 6 , 1940 in Milwaukee , Wisconsin and raised in California , Larscheid was a running back for Utah State University , where he was an All - American in 1960 . In that year he led the nation with a rushing average of 8 . 4 yards . Highlights of his playing days at Utah State include a 76 - yard pass reception against Hawaii in 1959 , a 102 - yard kickoff return against BYU in 1960 , and an 85 - yard punt return versus Utah in 1961 . Larscheid was selected in the 18th round ( 251st overall ) of the 1962 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles , but ended up signing with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League , where he played only two seasons before being forced to retire due to knee injuries . Broadcasting career . After his retirement from football , he became the colour commentator for the BC Lions on CKNW beginning in 1965 , working alongside play - by - play commentator Jim Cox . In 1977 , he added hockey broadcasting to his duties , joining Jim Robson in the booth for Vancouver Canucks radio broadcasts . When the Lions radio rights moved to CFUN in 1983 , Larscheid went with them and left the Canucks broadcasts . In 1984 , Cox retired and J . P . McConnell became the new " voice of the Lions " . In 1988 , the Lions moved back to CKNW and Larscheid resumed his work with the Canucks . Larscheid ' s duties included television as well , when the Canucks simulcasted their radio broadcasts on BCTV or CHEK - TV . From 1987 to 1990 , Larscheid did television work for football as well , working on the CFL - produced " Canadian Football Network " , where he worked as a colour commentator on the network ' s secondary broadcast team and worked four Grey Cups as a sideline reporter and field - level analyst . In 1994 , Jim Robson retired from radio and Larscheid ' s new hockey partner became Jim Hughson . In 1999 , Hughson moved back to television full - time and Larscheid was paired with John Shorthouse . All through this time , he continued to juggle both football and hockey . However , this meant frequent scheduling conflicts and in 2000 he was pulled off Lions broadcasts in order to work full - time on Canucks games . In 2006 , Larscheid and Shorthouse moved to radio station CKST ( " The Team 1040 " ) , when that station won the Canucks broadcasting rights from CKNW . In addition to acting as a colour commentator , Larscheid regularly interviewed guests between periods in the broadcast booth . In early March 2007 , Larscheid hinted that he might retire from his colour commentary duties at the end of the 2006 – 07 hockey season , his 24th with the Canucks . However , Larscheid on May 15 , 2007 signed a new 1 year contract with TEAM 1040 to continue being the colour commentator for the Vancouver Canucks . Tom also made daily appearances on the " Canucks Lunch with Blake Price and Dave Tomlinson " radio show . On July 28 , 2010 , Larscheid announced that he would be retiring at the start of the 2010 – 11 season . His final radio call was the Vancouver Canucks season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on October 9 . He spent 27 seasons as the colour commentator for the Vancouver Canucks and was replaced by Dave Tomlinson . On - air personality . Larscheid was known for his enthusiasm , frequently laughing and giggling during broadcasts . He didn ' t hide his support for the Canucks or Lions and openly cheered for them during broadcasts . He could be very quick to criticize players , coaches and officials , including players of the home teams whom he didn ' t think gave a maximum effort . His on - air bluntness sometimes angered players . He was said to have occasional conflicts with play - by - play commentators Jim Robson and J . Paul McConnell , who were more conservative . There were couple of incidents where he has uttered expletives on the air , for which he later apologized . One was during Game 1 of the 1994 Western Conference Final , when Toronto defenceman Jamie Macoun speared Vancouver ' s Murray Craven , causing an angered Larscheid to exclaim , " That ' s just bullshit ! " Another was during the famous incident in 2000 when Boston defenceman Marty McSorley two - handed Vancouver ' s Donald Brashear over the head , which prompted Larscheid to react in a similar way .