Former National Hockey League goaltender and longtime Hockey Night in Canada analyst John Garrett has passed away, Rogers Sportsnet announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The native of Trenton, Ont. was 74.<\/p>\n
Garrett had been serving as the analyst for the Utah Mammoth<\/a>–Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> first-round playoff series.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is with profound sadness we share the news of the sudden passing of John Garrett, a beloved colleague, friend, and one of the most familiar voices in Canadian hockey,\u201d Sportsnet said in a statement. \u201c\u2018Cheech\u2019 was a legend. <\/p>\n \u201cHis warmth, humour, and genuine love for the game endeared him to fans and colleagues alike. He brought insight, authenticity, and heart to every broadcast. He will be remembered not only for his remarkable career, but for the kindness and joy he shared with everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. John will be missed immensely. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n The 38th overall selection of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Blues<\/a> out of the Ontario Hockey League\u2019s Peterborough Petes, Garrett went on to appear in 207 NHL games over six seasons with the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks<\/a> from 1979 to 1985. Garrett was an All-Star in 1983. He finished his career with a record of 68-91-37 with a goals against average of 3.47 and a save percentage of .866.<\/p>\n Garrett also played for six seasons in the World Hockey Association for the Minnesota Fighting Stars, Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls and New England Whalers.<\/p>\n Garrett is fondly remembered for his lengthy broadcasting career, joining Hockey Night in Canada in 1986. Along with his national work, Garrett served as colour man for local Edmonton Oilers<\/a> broadcasts. Jumping from the CBC to Sportsnet in 1998, Garrett worked national games, as well as Calgary Flames<\/a> broadcasts.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not big on memorabilia and don\u2019t collect things from teams or players. My once exception, a signed picture John Garrett gave me years ago. He cherished family, friends and work. It was his thoughtfulness and sense of humour that made him the best. Rest, Cheech. pic.twitter.com\/afiqIvHNHa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In 2002, Garrett became the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> primary analyst, a role he served in for over two decades alongside play-by-play men Jim Hughson and John Shorthouse. With Sportsnet taking over production of Hockey Night in 2014, Garrett returned to select weekly west coast games and playoff broadcasts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe National Hockey League family is stunned and saddened by the sudden passing of John Garrett, whose astute analysis took fans \u2013 particularly in Western Canada \u2013 inside our game for the last four decades,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. \u201cFollowing a 13-season career as a goaltender in the WHA and the NHL, Garrett moved into the broadcast booth in 1986 and never left, contributing his encyclopedic knowledge and expert insight to national broadcasts on Sportsnet and local broadcasts for the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, Calgary Flames<\/a>, and, for two decades, the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOn a personal note, I always enjoyed catching up with John when our travels around the League intersected \u2013 as they did one last time on Friday night in Utah, when he broadcast the Mammoth\u2019s first ever home playoff game. We send our deepest condolences to his family, his friends around the game and his many fans.\u201d<\/p>\n