John Garrett Cause of Death | Legendary hockey, Canucks, Net Worth, Family, Biography & lifestyle!
A heartbreaking silence has fallen over the hockey world as fans, former teammates, broadcasters, and the entire NHL community mourn the sudden passing of legendary Canadian goaltender and beloved sports commentator John Garrett.
John Murdoch Garrett, affectionately known by generations of hockey fans as “Cheech,” passed away on April twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-six, at the age of seventy-four. His death was announced by Sportsnet and confirmed by the Vancouver Canucks organization, sending shockwaves across the hockey world. Reports stated that he died suddenly, and no official cause of death was publicly provided at the time of announcement.
For decades, John Garrett was far more than just a former NHL goalie—he was a voice of comfort for hockey fans, a storyteller in the broadcast booth, and one of the most recognizable personalities in Canadian sports television. Whether stopping pucks in the crease or calling unforgettable games from the commentary desk, Garrett brought passion, humor, and authenticity that made him unforgettable.
His passing feels like the end of an era.
Today, we remember not only the athlete and broadcaster—but the man whose voice became part of hockey history.
This is the life story, career, family, cause of death, and lasting legacy of John Garrett.
BIOGRAPHY
John Murdoch Garrett was born on June seventeenth, nineteen fifty-one, in Trenton, Ontario, Canada.
From an early age, hockey was more than just a sport for him—it was a calling. Growing up in Ontario, Garrett developed a fierce love for the game and quickly became known for his determination and strong goaltending instincts. Though not the tallest goalie by professional standards, standing at five feet eight inches, he proved that heart and skill could outshine size.
His journey to professional hockey was built on persistence. Garrett never relied on glamour—he earned everything through hard work, discipline, and a deep understanding of the game.
That relentless drive would eventually take him from junior leagues to the highest levels of professional hockey in both the WHA and NHL.
But perhaps what made John Garrett truly special was not just how he played the game—it was how he connected with people. Fans didn’t just respect him; they genuinely loved him.
And that love only grew stronger after he stepped away from the ice.
PLAYING CAREER
John Garrett’s professional hockey journey began when he was selected in the nineteen seventy-one NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.
Before reaching the major spotlight, he spent time developing with the Blues’ Central Hockey League affiliate, followed by valuable playing experience with the Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League and the Richmond Robins of the American Hockey League.
Then came the opportunity that would define his early professional years.
In the nineteen seventy-three to nineteen seventy-four season, Garrett signed with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association. This marked the true beginning of his major professional career. He played there until the franchise folded in February of nineteen seventy-six.
After that, he joined the Toronto Toros and later followed the franchise when it relocated to become the Birmingham Bulls.
In the final WHA season, Garrett was traded to the New England Whalers, where he continued building his reputation as a dependable goaltender. When the WHA merged into the NHL, Garrett remained with the franchise as it became the Hartford Whalers.
He later played for the Quebec Nordiques and eventually the Vancouver Canucks, where he would become especially beloved.
One of the most memorable moments of his playing career came when he assisted on Gordie Howe’s final career goal—a historic moment that strangely went uncredited by the NHL for decades. It was only officially recognized many years later during the twenty twenty-five Stanley Cup Final.
Garrett also became Vancouver’s lone representative at the nineteen eighty-three NHL All-Star Game. In one of the strangest moments in All-Star Game history, he was originally voted MVP before Wayne Gretzky scored four late goals, leading to a second vote that gave Gretzky the honor instead.
His playing career officially ended before the nineteen eighty-five to nineteen eighty-six season, closing thirteen unforgettable years in professional hockey.
He played with courage, humor, and personality—and even in retirement, fans never forgot him.
BROADCASTING CAREER
For many fans, John Garrett was not first remembered as a goalie—but as the voice they heard during Canucks games.
After retiring from professional hockey, Garrett was initially offered an assistant general manager position with Vancouver. But when management changes happened, that opportunity disappeared.
Instead, fate led him somewhere even more impactful—the broadcast booth.
In nineteen eighty-six, Garrett began his broadcasting career with CBC’s legendary Hockey Night in Canada as a color commentator.
It did not take long for audiences to notice something special.
He was insightful without being arrogant. Funny without trying too hard. Honest without being cruel.
He understood the game deeply because he had lived it.
Within just a few years, he became one of the most respected voices in hockey broadcasting and was assigned major playoff coverage, including conference finals.
He later worked with Edmonton Oilers broadcasts, Calgary Flames telecasts, and eventually became the beloved longtime color commentator for Vancouver Canucks games on Sportsnet Pacific.
His partnership with play-by-play announcer John Shorthouse became iconic.
Fans loved the chemistry between them.
Garrett’s humor, his legendary food stories, his famous ketchup jokes, and his genuine love for hockey made him one of the most relatable broadcasters in sports.
He was never just calling games.
He was part of the experience.
In March of twenty twenty-three, Garrett officially announced his retirement from full-time regional broadcasts after the twenty twenty-two to twenty twenty-three season, though he continued appearing part-time on Sportsnet NHL coverage.
Even after stepping back, fans still considered him one of the true voices of Canadian hockey.
And they always would.
PERSONAL LIFE
John Garrett was known publicly for hockey, but privately, he was known for kindness.
Friends, colleagues, and fans consistently described him as warm, humble, approachable, and genuinely funny.
He carried none of the ego often associated with sports fame.
Whether he was talking to Hall of Famers, arena staff, or fans meeting him for the first time, Garrett treated people with the same respect.
His nickname “Cheech” became part of his identity.
The nickname came during the mid-nineteen seventies from teammate Rick Smith, who thought Garrett’s afro hairstyle and mustache made him look like Cheech from the famous comedy duo Cheech and Chong.
The name stayed forever.
Another famous nickname was “Lotto,” earned after one season because his goals-against average matched Canada’s national lottery numbers—Lotto six forty-nine.
He embraced the joke with the same good humor that made fans love him.
His personality made him unforgettable.
Not just as a broadcaster.
But as a person.
FAMILY LIFE
John Garrett kept much of his family life private, choosing to protect his loved ones from public attention.
While he spent decades in the public eye, he remained deeply family-oriented behind the scenes. Friends often spoke of how much he valued time with his children, grandchildren, and loved ones.
Fans on social media shared stories of meeting him through family connections and described him as warm, grandfatherly, and incredibly kind. Many said he felt like family even to viewers who only knew him through television.
Though the names of all family members were not widely made public, one thing was clear—he was deeply loved at home just as he was in the hockey world.
His passing leaves behind grieving family, lifelong friends, former teammates, colleagues, and millions of fans who grew up hearing his voice.
The heartbreak reaches far beyond the rink.
CAUSE OF DEATH
John Garrett passed away suddenly on April twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-six, at the age of seventy-four.
Sportsnet announced his passing, and both the NHL and Vancouver Canucks released emotional statements honoring his life and legacy.
At the time of public reporting, no official cause of death had been disclosed.
Reports simply stated that Garrett died suddenly, which made the news even more shocking for fans, especially because he had still been actively involved in playoff broadcasts shortly before his passing.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the hockey family was “stunned and saddened” by the sudden loss.
For many fans, it was difficult to believe.
Just days earlier, his familiar voice was still part of the game.
And then, suddenly, it was gone.
Sometimes the hardest losses are the ones no one sees coming.
And this was one of them.
NET WORTH
At the time of his passing in twenty twenty-six, John Garrett’s estimated net worth was believed to be between three million and five million dollars.
His earnings came from multiple successful chapters of life.
First, his professional hockey career across the WHA and NHL.
Then, and perhaps even more significantly, his decades-long broadcasting career with CBC, Hockey Night in Canada, and Sportsnet.
As one of the most recognizable analysts in Canadian hockey television, Garrett built not only financial success but also something far more valuable—lasting respect.
His real wealth was the trust and love he earned from generations of fans.
That kind of legacy cannot be measured in dollars.
LEGACY AND IMPACT
John Garrett’s legacy lives in two worlds.
On the ice—and behind the microphone.
As a player, he represented toughness, resilience, and unforgettable moments in both the WHA and NHL.
As a broadcaster, he became part of people’s homes.
Fans did not just watch hockey with John Garrett.
They experienced hockey with him.
He made wins sweeter.
Losses easier.
And ordinary games memorable.
His commentary style was never forced. It felt like listening to a trusted friend who simply loved the sport.
That authenticity is rare.
And impossible to replace.
The Vancouver Canucks called him a cherished member of their family.
The NHL called his loss heartbreaking.
Fans called him a legend.
All of them were right.
John Garrett was not just remembered.
He was loved.
And that is the greatest legacy of all.
EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE ENDING
John Garrett may have left this world, but his voice will echo for generations.
In every Canucks highlight…
In every old Hockey Night in Canada memory…
In every fan who still smiles remembering one of his stories…
Cheech lives on.
He taught people that sports are not just about scores.
They are about connection.
Laughter.
Memory.
Community.
And heart.
He gave all of that—and more.
Today, hockey says goodbye to one of its most beloved voices.
But legends like John Garrett never truly disappear.
They remain in the stories we tell.
The moments we replay.
And the love we carry forward.
Rest peacefully, John Garrett.
Thank you for every save.
Every laugh.
Every unforgettable broadcast.
And every memory.
You will never be forgotten.
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