John Garrett

Early life and playing career

John Murdoch Garrett was born on June 17, 1951, in Trenton, Ontario, into a family of seven. His father was a schoolteacher and his mother stayed at home, with the family's finances often strained to afford hockey equipment. His mother also cared for her father and her brother, who had been injured during World War II. Garrett was originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 1971 NHL entry draft but began his professional career in the minors. He signed with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association for the 1973-74 season, beginning a six-year tenure in the WHA. He played for the Fighting Saints until the franchise folded in February 1976, then moved to the Toronto Toros, which later relocated to become the Birmingham Bulls. Garrett holds the WHA record for the most losses by a goaltender in the league's history.

While with the Whalers, Garrett was involved in an assist on Gordie Howe's final NHL goal, though the league did not officially credit him for decades. After reviewing footage, the NHL retroactively awarded Garrett the assist in 2025, with Ron MacLean confirming the addition during that year's Stanley Cup Final. Garrett also played for the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks before retiring at the start of the 1985-86 season. Replacing an injured Richard Brodeur as the Vancouver Canucks' sole representative, Garrett was initially voted the game's Most Valuable Player before the contest ended. After Wayne Gretzky scored four third-period goals, a re-vote was held and Gretzky was named MVP.

Transition to broadcasting

Garrett's first foray into broadcasting occurred while he was still an active player. When the Hartford Whalers missed the playoffs, he was approached by CTV to serve as an intermission analyst alongside Pat Burns during their Stanley Cup playoff coverage. Upon retiring from play, Garrett had been offered an assistant general manager position by Canucks general manager Harry Neale, but the offer was withdrawn after Neale was fired. This turn of events led Garrett to formally begin his broadcasting career for the 1986-87 season. He joined CBC's Hockey Night in Canada as a colour commentator and quickly established himself as a valuable member of the broadcast team. He was assigned his first conference final in 1991, beginning a streak of calling eight consecutive conference finals. During this period, he also worked as the lead colour commentator for Edmonton Oilers local telecasts with Bruce Buchanan.

Garrett left CBC in 1998 to join the newly launched CTV Sportsnet, which later became Rogers Sportsnet. There, he worked as a studio analyst on national broadcasts and as the colour commentator for Calgary Flames games on Sportsnet West. His career was not without interruption, as during the 1994-95 NHL lockout he briefly worked for United Parcel Service of Canada in Vancouver. His most enduring broadcast role began with the 2002-03 season, when he became the full-time colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks regional games on Sportsnet Pacific.

Later career and retirement from regional broadcasts

Following Rogers Media's acquisition of the national NHL rights in 2014, Garrett continued his regional role with the Canucks while also receiving occasional network assignments on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet, or City TV. On March 23, 2023, Garrett announced he would retire from the Canucks regional broadcast booth at the conclusion of the 2022-23 NHL season. He stated his intention to continue working with Sportsnet's NHL coverage in a part-time capacity. True to his word, Garrett remained active with the network, contributing as an analyst on various broadcasts. He was working in this capacity during the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, providing analysis for Sportsnet on the first-round series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Personality and nicknames

Throughout his broadcasting career, John Garrett was known for his relatable and humorous on-air persona. He was famously obsessed with ketchup, a preference he traced to his childhood when his family could not always afford good food, and ketchup was the sauce that made everything taste better. This quirk became a well-known part of his broadcast identity. He also acquired two notable nicknames during his hockey career. After the 1984-85 season, he earned the nickname 'Lotto' because his high goals-against average of 6.49 matched the number of Canada's national lottery, Lotto 6/49.

One of the most legendary anecdotes from his playing days involved a hot dog. While serving as the backup goaltender for the Quebec Nordiques, Garrett was situated in a hallway behind the bench at the Colisée de Québec, out of sight of fans. During a game, he accepted a hot dog from the team trainer. When starting goalie Dan Bouchard skated off in frustration after a goal, Garrett was forced to enter the game immediately, without time to dispose of the food. He subsequently finished the contest with the hot dog still tucked into his goalie equipment, a story he often recounted with humour in later years.

Career statistics and highlights

John Garrett's professional hockey career spanned 12 seasons across the WHA and NHL. He played for three WHA franchises: the Minnesota Fighting Saints, the Toronto Toros/Birmingham Bulls, and the New England Whalers. He holds the WHA record for most losses by a goaltender. In the NHL, he played for the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Vancouver Canucks. The following table outlines his regular season statistics in both major leagues.

John Garrett's broadcasting career was marked by significant longevity and consistency. His first broadcasting job was as an intermission analyst for CTV's Stanley Cup playoff coverage while he was still an active player with the Hartford Whalers. He began his full-time broadcasting career with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for the 1986-87 season after retiring from play. Garrett was assigned his first conference final broadcast in 1991, which was the first of eight consecutive years he covered that round. He left CBC in 1998 to join CTV Sportsnet, now Rogers Sportsnet, where he worked as a studio analyst and a colour commentator for Calgary Flames games.

• 1986: Began full-time broadcasting with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
• 1991: Called his first NHL conference final, beginning an eight-year streak.
• 1998: Joined the new CTV Sportsnet (later Rogers Sportsnet).
• 2002: Became the full-time colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks regional broadcasts on Sportsnet Pacific.
• 2023: Announced retirement from Canucks regional broadcasts after the 2022-23 season.
• 2026: Was working as a playoff analyst for Sportsnet at the time of his death.

John Garrett's contributions to sports broadcasting were recognized by his peers and fans who appreciated his knowledgeable analysis. He delivered his commentary with a lighthearted and approachable style that resonated with viewers. Garrett became a fixture on Canadian sports television for generations of hockey fans. He served as the colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks regional broadcasts on Sportsnet Pacific from the 2002-03 season until his retirement from that role after the 2022-23 season. Garrett also had occasional national network assignments on Hockey Night in Canada and, after 2014, on Sportsnet or City television.

Questions about John Garrett

What teams did John Garrett play for in the NHL?

John Garrett played for three NHL teams: the Hartford Whalers, the Quebec Nordiques, and the Vancouver Canucks. He began his NHL career when the New England Whalers franchise, with whom he finished his WHA career, entered the NHL in 1979 and became the Hartford Whalers. He was later traded to the Quebec Nordiques and subsequently played for the Vancouver Canucks. His professional playing career in the NHL spanned from 1979 until his retirement at the start of the 1985-86 season.

What was John Garrett's role with the Vancouver Canucks broadcasts?

John Garrett served as the colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks regional television broadcasts. He began this role with Sportsnet Pacific at the start of the 2002-03 NHL season. For over two decades, he provided analysis alongside play by play announcers, first working with Jim Hughson and later with John Shorthouse. He announced his retirement from this specific regional broadcast position in March 2023, planning to conclude his duties after the 2022-23 season while continuing part time network work for Sportsnet.

What is the story about John Garrett and the hot dog?

The story involves John Garrett eating a hot dog during an NHL game while he was a backup goaltender. While playing for the Quebec Nordiques, Garrett was stationed in a hallway behind the team bench during a game. A team trainer gave him a hot dog, which he accepted. When starting goalie Dan Bouchard was pulled from the game abruptly, Garrett had to enter the contest immediately. With no time to discreetly dispose of the food, he played the remainder of the game with the hot dog still tucked inside his goalie equipment.

How did John Garrett get involved in broadcasting?

John Garrett first became involved in broadcasting while he was still an active professional player. This opportunity arose in 1986 when his team, the Hartford Whalers, missed the NHL playoffs. He was approached by the CTV television network to work as an intermission analyst alongside Pat Burns for their Stanley Cup playoff coverage. After retiring from play and having a front office job offer withdrawn, he began his full time broadcasting career the following season, joining CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for the 1986-87 campaign.

What was unusual about John Garrett's 1983 NHL All Star Game appearance?

The unusual event was that John Garrett was voted the game's Most Valuable Player and then it was taken back. As the Vancouver Canucks' only representative, replacing an injured teammate, Garrett was voted MVP by writers before the game concluded. However, after Wayne Gretzky scored four goals in the third period, the writers held a re vote. The result was that Gretzky was named the All Star Game MVP instead, rescinding the initial honour that had been given to Garrett during the same game.

Sources and further reading

• John Garrett (Wikipedia)
• Keynote Speaker John Garrett Speaking Fee ... - BigSpeak (bigspeak.com)
• John Garrett (thejohngarrett.com)
• Hire John Garrett, Keynote CPA Speaker (funny-business.com)
• John Garrett Speaker Website Case Study (speakerwebsites.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.