COLUMBUS, Ohio — Longtime Columbus Blue Jackets play-by-play broadcaster Jeff Rimer announced Wednesday that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the upcoming NHL season.
In a letter penned to Jackets fans, Rimer expresses his gratitude for the continuous support he has received through his two decades spent with the team, but says "all good things must come to an end."
Rimer has spent nearly 50 years in the NHL and has called well over 2,500 games in various broadcast booths, including time as a pre-, intermission and post-game host before he moved into the play-by-play chair.
Despite spending 10 seasons with the Washington Capitals and 11 years with the Florida Panthers, Rimer said that he can easily say that the highlight of his time in the league was the 20 years spent as a Blue Jacket.
"The reasons are many: the wonderful ownership group led by the McConnell family, all my Blue Jackets teammates that I’ve had the honor of working with over the years, my Bally Sports family and last, but certainly not least, the great Jackets fans known as 'The Fifth Line,'" Rimer wrote in the statement.
The Toronto native began his career at CFAC Radio in Calgary before spending four years working for the Canadian Broadcasting Company. He was also CBC's gymnastic commentator at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
His career took him to Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Florida before coming to Columbus beginning in the 2005-06 season.
"It has been an honor, a pleasure and very special privilege," Rimer said.
