Center 200 in Sydney’s announcer voice has changed after nearly 40 years.
Seventy-five-year-old Dave LeBlanc decided it was the right time for him to retire as the arena announcer for the Cape Breton Eagles.
He started in radio in 1973 and announced different games over the years at the old Sydney Forum.
Then, when the Cape Breton Oilers came to town, Centre 200 needed somebody and asked if he would like to be their announcer.
Highlights of his career include the Cape Breton Oilers’ Calder Cup win in 1993 and the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2003.
He most recently announced the home games for the Cape Breton Eagles.
LeBlanc shared with our newsroom how it felt for him to be inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame.
“You’re actually being honoured by your community. And I never thought it’d happen to me, but when I was notified about it, it was amazing how it made me feel. It was an honour, an honour that I’ll never forget,” said LeBlanc.
He is grateful for all the professional athletes and people he met during his career.
LeBlanc shared with our newsroom how it felt to finish his final announcements in the Cape Breton Eagles’ home opener last month.
“No regrets, but it was just that funny feeling that your life changed. My life changed forever then, and I’d move on to a new, whole new chapter of my life, which I’m really looking forward to,” he said.
LeBlanc recently moved to Bedford and is looking forward to the next chapter of his life and the people that he’s going to be with.
