Well-known radio personality Rob MacNamara takes over PA job at Centre 200 in SydneyPublished Oct 09, 2025Last updated 1 hour ago5 minute readLongtime Cape Breton public address announcer Dave LeBlanc called his final game on Sept. 26 when the Cape Breton Eagles hosted the Moncton Wildcats at Centre 200 in Sydney. LeBlanc has officially retired from his role. Photo by Jeremy Fraser /Cape Breton PostArticle contentFor more than 35 years, the well-known voice of Dave LeBlanc kept you informed of the happenings during hockey games from the press box at Centre 200.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentFrom goal to penalty announcements, LeBlanc made sure those in attendance for the Cape Breton Oilers and Eagles knew what had happened on the ice in his role as public address announcer at the Sydney venue.Article contentArticle contentNow in his mid-70s, LeBlanc has stepped away from his position, handing the headset and microphone over to another well-known Cape Breton radio personality in Rob MacNamara.Article content“I planned it from a standpoint,” said LeBlanc. “I’m 75 years old, so you have to give it up sooner than later, but I’m walking out on my terms and also on the terms that I’m leaving it in good hands with Rob, so that’s satisfying.”Article contentArticle contentThe following night, on Sept. 27, the Eagles held a pre-game ceremony in honour of LeBlanc’s retirement, allowing the voice of Cape Breton sports himself to hand the duties over to MacNamara.Article content Rob MacNamara, left, and Dave LeBlanc shake hands on Sept. 27, the night MacNamara replaced LeBlanc as the public address announcer for the Cape Breton Eagles at Centre 200 in Sydney. Photo by Jeremy Fraser /Cape Breton PostArticle contentSTANDING OVATIONArticle contentDuring the ceremony, which saw members of his family join him on the ice, LeBlanc spoke passionately about his career on the mic and thanked the Oilers and Eagles organizations for their trust in him for the last 38 years. LeBlanc’s speech was received with a standing ovation from the 2,478 fans in attendance.Article contentArticle content“This moment impressed one thing upon me and that’s people do care, and people see the job that you’re doing,” said LeBlanc. “It was very heartwarming, and it put a lump in my throat. I thought it was important to include the fans for what I had done over the last several decades.”Article contentArticle contentThe connection between LeBlanc and MacNamara goes beyond the passing of the microphone. In fact, the two are very familiar with each other, making the transition even smoother, said MacNamara.Article content“I had the honour of working with Dave back in the mid-1990s when I was at CJCB,” said MacNamara. “Ironically, when the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League was here for a year, the Cape Breton Pepsi Islanders, Dave was the general manager and he hired me to do the PA announcing at the time, so we’ve had a connection all the way back to the 1990s.”Article contentFor MacNamara, replacing LeBlanc is a full-circle moment and one he’s waited patiently for over the years.Article content“This is a position that I hoped to get for a long time – Dave’s longevity goes to show how long I’ve waited for it,” said MacNamara.Article content“I started working with the Eagles back in 2009 and I took the job doing music with the long-term goal of replacing Dave someday. It took 16 years, so I’m happy to be in the role and it’s definitely going to take a while for me to make it my own and get my own style.”Article content Dave LeBlanc was the voice of Cape Breton sports on CJCB radio for more than two decades from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentLONG CAREERArticle contentLeBlanc, well-known in the community for his sports reports on CJCB from the 1970s to the late 1990s, began his public address announcing career in the late 1980s when the American Hockey League landed in Sydney.Article contentWhile many are familiar with his voice, what they don’t know is his time behind the mic almost ended after the Oilers’ first game.Article content“They wanted an announcement during the game for the other radio station in town and I refused to do it,” laughed LeBlanc. “The person who was putting the whole package together met me after the game and told me that I had to make the announcement.Article contentArticle content“I told him that I had been at CJCB for a long time and when I open my mouth, people don’t hear Dave LeBlanc, they hear CJCB Radio, and I don’t think it’s very good if I’m promoting the other radio station in town. Fortunately, they agreed, and they got someone from that radio station to do it.”Article contentBehind the mic, LeBlanc has called many memorable hockey moments, but his favourite came on May 30, 1993, when the Oilers defeated the Rochester Americans 7-2 to claim their first and only Calder Cup title in Sydney.Article content“You could tell that the Cape Breton Oilers were the superior team, and you knew it was coming,” said LeBlanc. “The icing on the cake for me was being given a Calder Cup ring by the team. I still cherish it. It was a major moment for me.”Article contentOther memorable moments for LeBlanc were announcing the 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship games in Sydney as well as contests in the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton.Article contentArticle contentWhen the Oilers left town in the mid-1990s, LeBlanc stepped away from the mic, but returned when the Eagles organization approached him two years after their arrival in Sydney in 1997.Article content“I think even for the fans, they were transitioning from pro hockey to junior hockey, and it was tough because they were used to that pro model,” said LeBlanc. “Even for me doing the announcing, you had to get used to it because it was a different animal all together, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”Article content‘MY OWN STYLE’Article contentSince taking over the position, MacNamara has announced three games including Cape Breton’s two contests against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens last week. He’s already finding his style with an energetic call for Eagles goals.Article content“Anybody who’s wanted a job like this would be lying if they said they didn’t practice making that goal announcement and practice with that big overtime win,” said MacNamara.Article content“I think once I get comfortable and once I establish myself in this position, I’ll probably have my own style. I’ll certainly try to inject a little bit more energy into it.”Article contentLeBlanc has some advice for the newcomer MacNamara.Article content“There’s going to be some long nights, there’s going to be some nights when some things happen that you’re not planning and you have to roll with the punches,” said LeBlanc, who was on the mic for the Eagles five overtime period playoff game last spring against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.Article content“He’s a professional announcer and he’s a good radio man, so he won’t have any trouble rolling with the punches. Some nights mistakes are made, but you have to let the water roll off the ducks back, he’ll get used to it.”Article contentAs for what’s next for LeBlanc, he’ll be moving to Halifax, but intends to continue following the Eagles.Article content“I’m not planning anything, it’s another part of my life,” said LeBlanc. “I’m looking forward to retirement and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.”Article contentLocal hockey fans will once again have an opportunity to hear MacNamara over the PA system at Centre 200 this weekend when the Eagles host the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m., starts.Article content
Passing of the mic: Longtime Cape Breton public address announcer Dave LeBlanc retires
