Peter Maher was voice of Calgary, not just Flames

And then there are broadcasters you remember for the way they made you feel.

On the radio, he had the ability to make you feel like you were watching the game.

The legendary voice of the Calgary Flames died Thursday at 79, leaving behind 33 seasons, nearly 3,000 games, a Hockey Hall of Fame plaque and enough adoring fans and colleagues to fill every arena in the league.

Those were the four pillars of the career and life of a man who had no ego, no edge and no interest in making anyone feel small.

That’s why, when Maher retired 13 years ago, Calgary’s media created an award in his honour.

Every year, the Peter Maher Good Guy Award goes to the Flames player who best represents those qualities. The most respected man in the room.

Even this spring, amidst an awful battle with his knees, he arrived with a walker. And watching a room full of what’s left of Calgary media types fall all over themselves trying to help him get around told you everything you needed to know.

“There are very few people in this business who have no ego,” said longtime broadcaster Peter Loubardias.

“Peter Maher had no ego. He was just there to do his job, and be kind to everyone who crossed his path.”

“To this day I feel so lucky and privileged,” he said. “He did it the right way.”

“There wasn’t a finer man I ever met,” Rogers said Thursday, still struggling over the news.

“I lost a great friend. He’s in the Hall of Fame as a broadcaster, but he should be in the Hall of Fame as a person.”

Peter took him under his wing, showed him the ropes and demonstrated what preparation really meant - endless hours in hotel rooms, at home, on planes and doing radio hits.

“The passion he had for it and the love he had for the game rubbed off on me.”