Long-time Maple Leafs PA announcer Paul Morris passes away at 86

One of the voices heard booming in the old hockey cathedral on Church and Carlton has passed away.

Last Thursday, former Toronto Maple Leafs public address announcer Paul Morris died at the age of 86. An obituary stated that he passed peacefully in Oshawa at Lakeridge Health after a long illness, with his Marion at his side.

Morris was the PA voice of the Maple Leafs dating back to 1961, when the club called the historic Maple Leafs Gardens home. He was just the second man to hold the position in the Leafs’ history, stepping in for the late Red Barber, who was the PA announcer when the Gardens opened in 1931.

Morris was fortunate to be around the team when it won three straight Stanley Cups from 1962 to 1964, including the franchise’s last championship in 1967.

“His voice was synonymous with the Gardens,” former captain Darryl Sittler said in an interview with the Toronto Sun. “It’s true that players thought they’d truly made the NHL when they heard him announce their name. He was such a nice man, too.”

Morris was also the sound engineer at the Gardens, serving in a full-time capacity for most of his career. His career took him all the way through the final game at MLG on Feb. 13, 1999, becoming the first hockey PA announcer at the new Scotiabank Arena, then known as the Air Canada Centre. He rounded the 1998-99 season before calling it a day. In 37 seasons, Morris was on the mic for over 1,500 games, never missing a Leafs contest.

He is best remembered for his very professional tone, not going over the top for a goal from the likes of Dave Keon or Doug Gilmour, and not undermining if an opponent found the back of the net. Morris cited his delivery came from the era he grew up in, where ‘announcers will refrain from personal comments.’

Since his retirement, only two other men have served as the PA voice for the Leafs — Andy Frost and Mike Ross.