Ottawa Senators

The NHL Alumni Association is heartbroken to learn that John Garrett has passed away at the age of 74. From Trenton, Ontario, Canada, John’s professional hockey journey began after the St. Louis Blues drafted him in the 1971 NHL amateur draft, joining the Blues’ affiliate club in Kansas City the following season. John joined the World Hockey Association (WHA) ahead of the 1973-74 season, playing 323 regular-season games in the WHA before his Hartford Whalers joined the NHL in 1979. On October 11, 1979, John made his NHL debut, with the Whalers taking on the North Stars at the Metropolitan Sports Center. John played parts of three seasons with Hartford before joining the Quebec Nordiques in January 1982, and later played with the Vancouver Canucks over parts of the following three seasons, concluding his NHL playing career. John began his broadcasting career shortly thereafter, becoming a colour commentator for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada in 1986. Now 16 years into his broadcasting career, John returned to Vancouver as the primary colour commentator for regional games, and proudly served in the role until the conclusion of the 2022-23 NHL season. Those who knew John will tell you about his love for the game of hockey, his kindness, and his sense of humour. We send our deepest condolences to John’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time.