Blue Jackets TV voice Jeff Rimer announced Wednesday that he will retire following the 2023-24 season.
A personal note from our dear friend and longtime play-by-play announcer @jrimercbj to the 5th Line.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 11, 2023
Thank you and congratulations, Jeff.
https://t.co/ipBGbQHsAW pic.twitter.com/TNjMCHAqK2
Rimer's broadcasting career spans six decades, including the past four calling over 2,000 NHL games on TV for the Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
"To have the privilege of a broadcast career in radio and television for parts of six decades, including 47 years in the National Hockey League as a pre-, intermission and post-game host before moving into the play-by-play chair, I am truly a lucky man," Rimer said in a statement. "But as they say, “all good things must come to an end.” It is time for me to spend more time with my family so the upcoming Blue Jackets season will be my last in the broadcast booth."
The Toronto, Ontario, native began his career at CFAC-Radio in Calgary before spending four years working for the Canadian Broadcasting Company which was highlighted by his gymnastic commentary at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He also worked for CFCF-Radio in Montreal for over eight years, where he served as the station's sporting director and hosted the Canadiens pre-and post-game shows.
He then moved to Baltimore where he served as the Capitals game host for six years before taking over as the TV play-by-play voice. He was the sports director at WBAL-Radio, where he hosted pre-and post-game shows for Baltimore Orioles baseball in addition to syndicated college basketball shows with Billy Packer and Maryland head coach Garry Williams. He also was a sideline reporter for Maryland Terrapins football. He was awarded a regional Emmy Award for his play-by-play work and won a United Press International National Broadcasting Award for his work at WBAL.
In 1994, he took over as the full-time play-by-play voice of the Florida Panthers, where he spent 11 seasons before moving to Columbus and calling Blue Jackets hockey beginning in the 2005-06 campaign.
