Legendary NHL Broadcaster Jeff Rimer Talks Career Milestones, The Rick Nash Goal, and His New Memoir on SPSN
Behind the Mic with Jeff Rimer — “It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This”
Jeff Rimer’s voice is the kind fans remember when a moment in sport becomes legendary — calm when the pressure is on, respectful of the athletes, and excited in a way that makes you feel you were right there in the arena. In our latest Scene Project Sports Network episode, longtime professional broadcaster Jeff Rimer joins Bubba Startz for a wide-ranging conversation: from his early days in Canada dreaming of playing in the NHL to nearly five decades calling hockey, baseball and Olympic moments — and now, the release of his memoir, It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This.
Read on for the highlights from the episode, key takeaways for aspiring broadcasters, and where to find Jeff’s new book. https://jeffrimer.com
Main Takeaways
A lifelong love of sports turned into a career: Jeff knew in the 10th grade that he wanted to be a professional broadcaster after an early hockey moment that redirected his ambitions from playing to calling the game.
Versatility built a long career: Jeff’s résumé includes NHL hockey (48 years), Major League Baseball (20 years), and the 1976 Montreal Olympics — where he worked with CBC and ABC and handled feature coverage like Nadia Comăneci’s perfect performances.
Integrity matters: One of Jeff’s core principles is never breaking a confidence. Building trust with players and colleagues is central to a long, respected career in sports media.
Trusted voices anchor new franchises: Jeff explains why an established broadcaster is vital when a team enters a new market — they help build local roots, educate new fans, and give credibility to a fledgling franchise.
The craft is harder at the top: While the barriers to entry are lower today (podcasting, fan content), the climb to the sportscape’s upper tier is tougher — shrinking budgets and cutbacks make persistence and hard work essential.
Memorable calls live forever: Jeff’s “goal of the decade” call — Rick Nash’s coast-to-coast, game-winning goal — remains a career-defining moment and an example of how great live sports moments and the right words become timeless.
Storytelling keeps giving: Writing his book let Jeff dig through tapes and memories and rediscover moments — including a youthful, unforgettable encounter with Muhammad Ali that makes for a great anecdote in the memoir.
Episode highlights and quotes
On knowing his path early: “I knew in high school, the tenth grade, that I was gonna be a professional broadcaster… I never worked a day in my life.”
On trust and relationships: “You never break a confidence. If you can gain the trust of these athletes… you’re in for life.”
On the Rick Nash call: “It was spontaneous — it doesn’t get any better than this.”
On helping newbies: Jeff routinely listens to demo tapes, gives feedback, and considers mentoring the next generation part of his duty to the craft.
Stories you’ll want to hear
How early disappointments turned into direction: Jeff’s move from player ambitions to the booth began after being cut and finding himself on the snowbank — a moment that set a broadcasting career in motion.
The Olympic memory: Working the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Jeff handled feature pronunciation work for ABC alongside legendary broadcasters like Chris Schenkel and Jim McKay.
The Cal Ripken nickname story: Jeff teases a funny book anecdote about being called “Jeff Ripken” during his Baltimore years.
Muhammad Ali on a local cable show: As a 20-year-old host in Calgary, Jeff scored a behind-the-scenes interview with Ali — and the story of how Ali endorsed him (and left a lasting memory) is a gem in the book.
Why new franchises need trusted voices
Jeff describes why teams like the Florida Panthers (in their inaugural season) and the Columbus Blue Jackets needed a steady broadcasting presence: a trusted voice binds a team to a community, brings newcomers along in their learning curve, and gives existing fans a familiar lens for the product on ice. For broadcasters, that role is more than play-by-play — it's community building.
Advice for aspiring broadcasters (from Jeff)
Work hard and be prepared — the upper tiers of broadcasting demand dedication.
Protect sources and players’ confidences — relationships are career-long currency.
Collect tape, accept feedback, and keep producing content — experience and craft matter.
Be versatile — the more sports and formats you can cover well, the more opportunities you’ll find.
About Jeff’s book
Title: It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This (subtitle mentioned in the episode: Unforgettable Calls in the Booth and Unexpected Turns in Life)
Availability: Jeff mentioned the book will be available via his website and Amazon (watch for the September release).
Author site: jeffrimer.com (search Jeff Rimer) — this is where Jeff says the book information and links to purchase will be posted.
Where to watch/listen
Watch the full conversation on the Scene Project Sports Network YouTube channel (SPSN) and podcast feeds — Bubba Startz hosts the interview with Jeff Rimer on the network’s show.
SPSN home and channels:
SPSN website: https://spsn.thesceneprojects.com
SPSN YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@SceneProjectsSportsNetwork?sub_confirmation=1
Why this episode matters to SPSN listeners
Jeff Rimer’s career spans generations of sports fans. For anyone building a career in sports media or for fans who cherish the voices behind their most memorable sports moments, this episode is a masterclass in persistence, professionalism, and the human moments behind the microphone. For our network (SPSN), it’s also an example of the kind of access and storytelling we want to bring to our audience — thoughtful interviews, career lessons, and the stories behind the headlines.
Final note from Bubba and a call to action
Bubba and the SPSN team are proud to present this conversation with Jeff Rimer. If Jeff’s career or advice resonated with you, consider:
Subscribing to the SPSN YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@SceneProjectsSportsNetwork?sub_confirmation=1
Visiting the SPSN website for show notes and episode links: https://spsn.thesceneprojects.com
Picking up Jeff’s memoir when it’s released — find details at jeffrimer.com and on Amazon.
