Iconic NHL broadcaster Bob Cole dead at 90:  Canada's 'voice of hockey' for 50 years who provided the soundtrack for the sport's biggest moments passes away in hometown

Bob Cole, Canada's voice of hockey over five decades, has sadly died at the age of 90. 

Cole, who provided the soundtrack to some of hockey's biggest moments, died Wednesday night in his hometown of St. John's, the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the network for which Cole worked, announced his death on Thursday. His daughter Megan revealed that her father had been healthy 'up until the very end.'

Cole called his first game on radio - between Boston and Montreal - in April 1969 and moved to TV in 1973. 

He called his last game on April 6, 2019 - the regular-season finale between the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.  

Bob Cole, Canada's voice of hockey over five decades, has sadly died at the age of 90

Cole called his first game on radio in April 1969 and called his last game on April 6, 2019

Greg Millen, a former NHL goaltender-turned-broadcaster, said Cole's voice was 'almost like a symphony'. 

Known for his 'Oh baby!' catchphrase, Cole called some iconic games as part of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. His distinctive style added even more flavor to the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union, the 2002 Olympic final in Salt Lake City and numerous Stanley Cup Finals.

Cole was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, winning the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. 

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe opened his remarks between playoff games Thursday by passing along condolences to Cole's family.

'A sad day for sure.... (he was) someone who touched the game in so many ways, as an icon in our sport and the voice of hockey, not just in Toronto, but in our country,' Keefe said.

'He's such a legend, such a great man,' said Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon, a Nova Scotia native. 'I've met him a few times over the years... amazing person, super funny. Just a great guy and obviously some of the best calls of all time.'