Great moments in history came to be as forces converged at the opportune moment; when Eve bit an apple at the urging of a serpent, when Phil Esposito called out hockey fans and inspired his team at the Summit Series, when Bob Dylan unplugged his guitar at the Newport Folk Festival.
For Peter Maher the forces were his journalistic integrity of treating teams alike when he would broadcast, a career defining misstep that resulted in the 1986 Oilers being eliminated from the playoffs and a Rod Stewart song.
When these conditions met, the world changed. “Yeah Baby!” was born.
The legendary broadcaster was not only a witness to some great moments in hockey, such as the 1989 Flames Stanley Cup, the cups run in 2004 and Canada’s gold medal performance at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, but was a part of it, calling the games from the booth. He was invited by the Drumheller Dragons to their annual awards dinner to wrap up the regular season.
He regaled the captive audience with stories from his career with the Flames. One story that he shared was the birth of his most famous catch phrase.
It happened in his sixth year with the Flames. Always a consummate professional, he treated teams with objectivity on the ice, however a phrase stuck out to him. He stumbled upon it listening to a Rod Stewart song, and it stuck in the back of his mind.
At the time, the Flames and Edmonton were in full combat in the Battle of Alberta. The Flames were leading in the second round series, three games to two. Maher wanted to work the line into a broadcast, but on that night it was not to be because the Oilers tied up the series.
At the next game, late in the third period, Oilers’ rookie Steve Smith attempted to clear the puck from the Oilers end, however it hit Grant Fuhr’s leg and bounced in to the Oilers net. The goal stood, the Flames advanced and Maher let out his first "Yeah Baby!"
There were more throughout the years such as when Calgary won the Cup in 1989, or when a player would reach 50 goals. There was kind of a drought until the Flames’ 2004-cup run where it achieved legendary status.
The voice that has propelled the Flames for years told the audience he never missed a game, although there were a few close calls, including at the Vancouver Olympics.
Fighting a cold and calling two games, Maher’s voice was close to expiring, however Team Canada had advanced to the final. It was Friday night, and the game was on Sunday. Rather than celebrating with colleagues, Maher holed himself up in the hotel drinking water, so he would be on task for one more career highlight.
One message he brought to the members of the Dragons was to work hard and be ready when your name is called.
“Hockey, and other sports provide a great opportunity for men and women to prepare for the world of other types of careers and business as you go through life. Teamwork and unselfishness are big things to learn and you also have to be dedicated,” said Maher. “I always said when you are on the ice playing, to work as hard as you possibly can every night you are out there.”
Maher’s son played for the Calgary Canucks, and his on-ice work ethic spilled over into the professional world when he interviewed for a job. The interviewer knew him from his hard work on ice, and this made him a shoe-in.
