Hockey

Pierre Houde not thinking about retirement
Jonathan Di Gregorio
Pierre Houde not thinking about retirement
Credit: Getty Images

This year marks Pierre Houde's fiftieth year in the media, and half a century in the business for the sports commentator who began his career on CKAC in 1975. Houde covered his first game on Radio-Canada in 1978 at the age of 21, and since then the Montreal native has covered over 3,500 hockey games and 600 Formula 1 races.

And that's not to mention his work on a number of sporting events, such as the Olympic Games. Today, we learn from Bill Brownstein's article in The Gazette that Houde isn't thinking of retiring just yet.

At 68, he intends to continue for a long time yet, but with the nebulous situation surrounding the NHL's French-language broadcasting rights, it's unclear whether he'll still be commentating on hockey after next season and whether RDS will be showing any games.

On the other hand, at least Houde knows that Formula 1 will be on RDS until 2029. His job is often demanding because of transportation and work schedules, and he's used to sleeping 4 or 5 hours a night between a Habs game and an F1 race, or vice-versa.

Despite the difficulties of his job, Houde is the media's iron man, having missed only two days of work in his 50-year career. The first time was during a game in Phoenix when the describer had the flu, and although he would have been ready to do the game, it was out of concern for contagion that he preferred to take the day off.

His second absence from work came last Sunday during an F1 race due to intense pain caused by shingles. In the meantime, Houde has described games and races with gastro, a torn knee ligament and pneumonia for half a season. In short, the dream employee!

Until we know what the future holds for him in the world of hockey, we wish him a very long career!

'Overtime'

– Jays defeat.

– It's getting tight.

– MLB in brief.

– Sundays as we like them.

– What a comeback!

TENvsDEN

– Big day against his former team

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