Jeff Rimer (born July 18, 1951)[1][2][3] is a Canadian-born American broadcaster who serves the television play-by-play announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.

Rimer began his broadcasting career in Calgary with Cable 10 and CFAC Radio. While at CFAC, he served as the play-by-play man for the Calgary Centennials of the Western Hockey League. After a stint in Lethbridge, Rimer worked for CBC Television in Edmonton under veteran sportscaster Ernie Afaganis.[2] He then worked for CFCF Radio, where he was the pre- and post-game show host for the Montreal Canadiens.[4] He was also CBC's gymnastics commentator during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.[4] In 1984 he was involved in a scuffle with Pete Rose over something Rose contended Rimer said about him on his radio program.[5]

In 1984, Rimer moved to WBAL radio in Baltimore, where he served as sports director and host of Orioles' pre and postgame reports.[6] In 1990 he became the television play-by-play announcer for the Washington Capitals.[7] In 1992, Rimer was replaced on the Capitals' cable broadcasts by Kenny Albert, but continued to call the team's games on WDCA-TV.[8][9] In 1993, Rimer began calling games for the expansion Florida Panthers.[10] During the 1993–94 season he called 33 games for the Panthers and 20 Capitals road games while still working at WBAL before covering the Panthers full time.[3][10] He remained with the Panthers until 2004 when former Panther coach and the Columbus Blue Jackets' president and general manager Doug MacLean hired Rimer for the same job in Columbus.[11] In 2017, he called his 2,000th NHL game.[4]

References

  1. ^ "@jrimercbj I sincerely want to thank those of you that reached out yesterday with Happy Birthday wishes and the kind thoughts. Much appreciated". Twitter. July 19, 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Powers, Bill (January 16, 1999). "Broadcaster's career hits big time". Calgary Herald.
  3. ^ a b Millan, Jorge (1993-09-17). "PANTHERS' ANNOUNCER RIMER A CAPITAL GAIN". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  4. ^ a b c Reed, Tom (March 10, 2017). "2000 and counting: Blue Jackets' broadcaster Jeff Rimer hits milestone with no end in sight". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Rose Scuffles With Broadcaster". Philadelphia Inquirer. June 17, 1984.
  6. ^ Milian, Jorge (September 17, 1993). "Panthers' Announcer Rimer a Capital Gain". Sun Sentinel.
  7. ^ Hochberg, Josh (October 30, 1990). "Rimer-Laughlin Duo Hep to Power Play, Just Developing Give and Go". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. ^ Shapiro, Leonard (June 10, 1992). "Speaking of Hockey, New Man on Scene Is a Natural". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ Frager, Ray (1992-09-03). "WDCA drops Proctor for Karvellas Ex-Bullets announcer to team with Chenier". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  10. ^ a b Jackman, Phil (August 22, 1994). "Love or hate him, Rimer will be missed". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  11. ^ Biggane, Brian (June 18, 2004). "Search is on for Play-by-Play Man". Palm Beach Post.
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