Legends of Hockey - 2000 Induction Showcase

Jim Matheson

As long as the Edmonton Oilers have been around, since 1979 in the National Hockey League and 1973 in the World Hockey Association, Jim Matheson has been there covering the club's every move for their fans.

Born on April 7, 1949 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, James Donald Matheson was destined to be in the reporting business from a very early age. His father, Jack, worked as a long-time Sports Editor and columnist for a local newspaper, The Winnipeg Tribune and later in life would be inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, as a tribute to his popularity throughout Manitoba. Jim grew up with a strong desire to follow in his father's footsteps.

Jim would graduate from the University of Manitoba with a degree in history/political science and while attending school worked a part-time nightshift with the Winnipeg Tribune. Out of school, Jim earned his first position with the Regina Leader-Post, but six months later he would move to his permanent home to the west, Edmonton, Alberta.

Starting at the Edmonton Journal in 1970, Matheson was initially covering the local curling and university sports scene. "Matty", as his friends and co-writers knew him, quickly made the jump to hockey however. When Edmonton was granted an expansion WHA franchise in 1973, he single-handedly became the Oilers beat-writer and would not miss a game for more than a decade. He continued with the Oilers when they joined the NHL in 1979 and spent countless hours following the team through the run of five Stanley Cups in seven years, completing an estimated number of more than 300 stories per winter. In addition to his duties, Jim also worked as part of the radio broadcast team covering the Oilers on CFRN radio. He completed his tenure as a beat writer in 1997, after 24 years of following pro hockey in Edmonton. Jim continues today writing a regular column in the Journal about the NHL and at various times still writes about his favourite topic...the Oilers.

Jim Matheson resides in Edmonton with his wife, Marni and has one son, Scott. Matheson is the recipient of the 2000 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bob Miller

The "Voice of Los Angeles Kings", Bob Miller has been calling the play-by-play for the Californian based club since 1973, with the 2000-01 NHL season marking his 28th year in the booth.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Miller received his degree from the University of Iowa where his broadcasting career began, covering the school's Hawkeye football and baseball games. His first professional assignment came in 1960, as a news and sports reporter for WITI-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Four years later, Miller was off to Madison, Wisconsin as the Sports Director at WMTV, before joining WKOW-TV and Radio in 1966. While with WKOW-TV, Miller would take on added responsibility, becoming the voice of the University of Wisconsin Badgers hockey, football and basketball teams, along with hosting two television sports shows. Three years later he would join the Badgers permanently as the Director of TV/Radio, while remaining as their on-air voice.

Miller's next big break came in 1973, when he was hired to become the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL, which he continues to this day. Over the years, many L.A. area fans would learn the game of hockey through Bob Miller's voice, his name synonymous with the game. On November 24, 1995, he reached a personal milestone, calling career NHL game #2000 during a game versus the Boston Bruins. During the club's 30th anniversary celebration on March 14, 1997, he was named as one of six inaugural members of the Kings Hall of Fame and along with trainer Pete Demers, is the only non-player of the group. The accolades continued as he was named California's Sportscaster of the Year in 1997 and on January 31, 1998, the Kings held a special "Bob Miller Night" in honour of his 25th year of broadcasting for the club. That night, famed broadcasters, Chick Hearn and Vin Scully honoured Miller and he was presented with a "lifetime contract" by the club.

Miller not only continues as the Kings broadcaster, but also is a well-respected and tremendous ambassador abroad, lending his voice to numerous TV and film projects, including, "Cheers", "Miracle on Ice", "The Mighty Ducks" and "The Mighty Ducks 2". Beginning in 1999-2000 with the opening of the brand-new facility, the Staples Center, Miller would now be forever recognized with his name attached to the, "Bob Miller Press Box".

Bob Miller currently lives in West Hills, California with his wife, Judy and has one daughter, Kristin and a son, Kevin. Miller is the 2000 recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Click here for the complete list of Honoured Members and Media Honourees.