Longtime NHL broadcaster Bill Davidge dead at 72

Bill Davidge, a staple in the Ohio hockey community who was a longtime broadcaster for the Columbus Blue Jackets, died on Tuesday, the team announced Wednesday.

He was 72.

Nicknamed “Dapper” by his colleagues for always showing up with his hair perfectly done while wearing a suit, Davidge made his presence felt almost everywhere in Ohio hockey. 

Davidge played four years at Ohio State, captaining the team during the 1976-77 season.

Soon after that, he joined the coaching staff at Miami University of Ohio, becoming head coach in 1985.

In 1997, when it was announced that Columbus was getting an expansion franchise, Davidge was brought on board to be an amateur scout for the two seasons before the franchise’s inaugural season. 

But when the Blue Jackets touched the ice for the first time in 2000, Davidge found himself in the broadcast booth as a color commentator until he retired at the age of 64 due to health concerns. 

Before he retired, Davidge witnessed the franchise’s first playoff series victory when they swept the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019. 

One of his favorite catchphrases was, “Oh baby, you better believe it.”

Longtime broadcast partner George Matthews reflected on Davidge’s legacy.

“Nobody enjoyed their time on this Earth more than Billy D,” Matthews told The Athletic.

“He lived each day tip to tip. He made the world a more enjoyable place, and he’ll be sadly missed by anyone whose life he touched.”

The Blue Jackets released a statement on Wednesday afternoon on X. 

“The Columbus Blue Jackets are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Davidge, who spent two decades with the club as a scout and a longtime color analyst on radio and television,” the statement reads.

“Our organization has never known a greater advocate or ambassador for our team and sport than Bill. If the Blue Jackets were somewhere in the community, there was a good chance Bill was there, and he was making an impact. There were no strangers in his world, only friends.”