Bob Ridley is hanging up his mic after more than five decades at the voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown & Gates Guarin

VIDEO: Bob Ridley retiring after more than 50 years as the voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers

Aug 16, 2022 | 2:22 PM

Bob Ridley, the legendary play-by-play voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers on CHAT 94.5, is hanging up his mic. After missing all but one game of the 2021-22 season while undergoing radiation treatment, Ridley has decided not to return to the booth this season.

On April 2, the Tigers paid tribute to the voice of the team since 1968, raising a Ridley banner to the rafters of Co-op Place. Bob Ridley Night also served as a celebration of his 4,000th game called, which happened in February 2021 but without fans in attendance. Ridley then returned to the booth to call the final Tigers game of the season on April 15.

CHAT News caught up with the man known as “Rids” to talk about why this was the right time to walk away from the broadcast booth, some of his favourite and most memorable moments in his career, and what the next chapter has in store.

The Western Hockey League compiled the following list of Ridley’s highlights and accomplishments:

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He was behind the mic for the Tigers’ WHL Championships in 1973, 1987, 1988, 2004 and 2007, as well as Medicine Hat’s two Memorial Cup victories in 1987 and 1988.

In addition to his work as the Tigers play-by-play voice, Ridley also served as the Club’s bus driver for 45 seasons.

Ridley’s contributions to Major Junior hockey in Western Canada have been recognized on a number of previous occasions:

1995 – Medicine Hat Civic Recognition Sports Award
2005 – Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Bell Memorial Award
2005 – Alberta Centennial Award
2006 – WHL Distinguished Service Award
2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award, Radio Television Directors News Awards
2011 – Inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame
2019 – Inducted into the Western Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame

In 1995, he was the recipient of the Medicine Hat Civic Recognition Sports Award. In 2005, Ridley was named the recipient of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Bell Memorial Award, and he was also presented with the Alberta Centennial Award by the Government of Alberta. In 2006, Ridley was recognized with the WHL Distinguished Service Award.

In 2021, the Western Hockey League unveiled the Bob Ridley Award for Media Excellence, presented annually to a distinguished member of the radio, television and print journalism industry in recognition of their outstanding contribution to sports journalism and the WHL.

Ridley was named the inaugural recipient.