The final 'Yeah, Baby!': Calgary celebrates the life of a Flames and broadcast legend

Friends, family and Flames fans gathered Friday to celebrate the kind of life you can put in the win column.

Hundreds were at the First Alliance Church to attend the celebration of life for Peter Maher, the long-time play-by-play commentator and radio broadcaster for the Calgary Flames who left an indelible mark on the city’s most supported sports franchise and its fans.

The 79-year-old broadcast legend passed away last Thursday — news that was met with a flood of grief around Calgary as well as the hockey world.

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But while some tears were shed at the southeast Calgary church on Friday, the service was punctuated by laughter and shouts of “Yeah, baby!” as eulogists shared anecdotes from Maher’s storied broadcast career.

Maher, who called Flames games on the radio from 1980 until his retirement in 2014, was known for his passionate commentary and trademark on-air catchphrases, including a booming “Yeah, baby!” after a goal and “You can put it in the win column!” following a Flames victory.

His was the voice many long-time Flames fans associate with the franchise’s sole Stanley Cup championship in 1989 and the playoff run to the Stanley Cup finals in 2004.

Several alumni from those two Flames teams were among the congregation on Friday, including Martin Gelinas, whose overtime winner in 2004 earned the Flames the Western Conference banner and booked a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals – a goal that elicited a triple “Yeah, baby!” on Maher’s broadcast that night.

“Peter was just the ultimate professional,” Gelinas told Postmedia journalists ahead of the service.

“I thought he was a guy that had passion for the game and that passion went through to all the fans on the radio. Doing an interview with Peter, he was just awesome. He made me feel comfortable and was just a good person.”

In many ways, Friday’s service was a who’s who of Flames history, with many notable alumni in attendance.

Former goaltender Miika Kiprusoff, who back-stopped the Flames for nine seasons — including that magical 2004 playoff run — travelled all the way to Calgary from Finland to be at the service.

“He was (with the Flames) a long time, and obviously for the time I was here, too,” Kiprusoff told reporters, when asked why he felt it was important to attend Maher’s service. “ I’ve always had big respect for him, and he was a great guy, s o I’m honoured to be here.