The Infamous Pen Flip That Changed Canadian Broadcasting
In Canadian sports broadcasting history, few moments are as legendary as Dave Hodge's pen flip on March 14, 1987. Now, nearly four decades later, the 81-year-old broadcaster remains unrepentant about the defiant gesture that cost him the most prestigious sports hosting job in the country.
A Moment of Protest That Resonated
Speaking at Monday's NHL Alumni Lunch at Scotiabank Pond in Toronto, Hodge re-told the story of what he calls "the Jose Bautista of pen flips" to an appreciative audience. The incident occurred when Hockey Night in Canada cut away from an overtime Philadelphia-Montreal playoff game to begin the 11 p.m. news, leading with coverage of an NDP leadership convention.
"What I essentially said was 'finish what you started,'" Hodge recalled telling approximately one million confused viewers that night. His frustration was palpable as he delivered his now-famous sign-off: "That's the way things go today in sports and this network. The Flyers and Canadiens have us in suspense, and we'll remain that way until we can find out somehow who won this game, or who's responsible for the way we do things here. Good night for Hockey Night in Canada."
The Aftermath and Legacy
The immediate aftermath saw Hodge suspended by CBC management with an option to return if he apologized. Instead, he chose to resign before facing termination. His replacement, Ron MacLean, has remained as host ever since, while Hodge moved to Vancouver to work full-time at CKNW radio and host Vancouver Canucks games.
"I received hundreds of letters afterwards and never saw one telling me to take it back," Hodge revealed, noting the overwhelming public support he received following the incident. The applause he received at the NHL Alumni Lunch suggests that respect for his principled stand has endured through the decades.
Clarifying the Historical Record
Hodge took the opportunity to correct some longstanding misconceptions about the famous moment:
- It was a pen, not a pencil: Hodge emphasized this detail, putting to rest years of speculation
- The pen's whereabouts remain unknown: Stories about it being retrieved by a collector in Vancouver or elsewhere are likely untrue
- Regional broadcasting differences: Only viewers in Quebec who had been watching the Canadiens-Flyers game all night saw the overtime period
Hodge joked about the regional disparities, noting that "I think in Western Canada, they had to watch The Flintstones" instead of the crucial overtime period.
A Distinguished Career Beyond the Controversy
Before his Hockey Night in Canada tenure, Hodge had established himself as a dominant voice on Toronto's CFRB, calling Argonauts football games. Following his departure from CBC, he remained active in broadcasting with TSN in later years, maintaining his presence in Canadian sports media despite the career-altering incident.
The pen flip incident has become part of Canadian broadcasting folklore, representing a moment when a broadcaster chose principle over career advancement. Four decades later, Dave Hodge's story continues to resonate with sports fans and media professionals alike, serving as a reminder of the complex relationship between broadcasters, networks, and the audiences they serve.
