Jim Martin announced his retirement on Facebook this afternoon
This posting is a little long. Please bear with me.
In April 1993 the Boston Bruins called and asked if I was available to finish out the season as PA announcer at the old Boston Garden. It was the second round of playoffs against the New Jersey Devils. A few hours later I was sitting center ice in a building I often snuck into as a kid to The first in-game announcement - a penalty to Ray Bourque. The penalty box was so small we sat next to one other, knees nearly touching. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was, working for the Boston Bruins and I am sitting next to Ray Bourque in Boston Garden. For the next 26 seasons I had the privilege of sitting in that chair as voice of the Bruins.
There comes a time when we all have to make tough decisions with our head and not our heart. It’s time for the next person to have the same privilege to sit in the chair and to be the voice of the Boston Bruins. I have 26 seasons of fabulous memories. Three Cup Finals, a Stanley Cup parade and Stanley Cup championship ring (thank you Mr. Jacobs!), two Winter Classics, an NHL All-Star Game, banner raisings, including Ray Bourque’s, the privilege of calling over 1,000 games, to name just a few.
There were somber moments, too. Among them, the first game played after the marathon bombings, honoring first responders and military personnel who over the years gave their lives to protect us, and the passing of so many great Bruins.
I can’t possibly count the number friends I made along the way. The list of people to thank is endless. From management past (thank you Nate Greenberg for calling me up from the Providence Bruins and keeping me around and Heidi Holland as my guiding light) to the present (Cam Neely and Don Sweeney for allowing me to hang around all these years), the staff, bull gang, ushers, off-ice officials, and of course the players. Trust me when I tell you hockey players are THE most genuine and caring good guys in all of professional sports. Thank you to the army of incredibly hard working behind the scenes staff. People you never see or hear who work their tails off every game to ensure fans have the best game-night experience possible. They made my job fun and easy.
With that I say thank you to my family, particularly my wife and biggest fan Lisa Kilby, who supported my every step of this incredible journey. My 26 season run has been a privilege for which I will be forever grateful.
