Leafs announcer slams home crowd as 'very disappointing'

1 week ago 31

Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs radio announcer Joe Bowen wasn’t shy about his frustration with a listless crowd at Scotiabank Arena Wednesday night, as the team dropped game three of its first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins.

Longtime radio voice Joe Bowen says crowd needs to be proactive, not reactive

Adam Carter · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 25, 2024 11:05 AM EDT | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago

A group of fans watching The Leafs on screen outside Scotiabank Arena.

Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs radio announcer Joe Bowen wasn't shy about his frustration with a listless crowd at Scotiabank Arena Wednesday night, as the team dropped game three of its first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins.

Bereft of many opportunities for his signature "Holy Mackinaw" goal call as the Leafs skaters were held to just two goals — continuing a recent trend over the last several playoff games where the team can't seem to score — Bowen teed off on the crowd for being quiet.

"The idea of going to any sporting event to support the home team is to be PRO ACTIVE!!," Bowen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Give the team energy when they need it … not sitting down waiting to be REACTIVE. The players can't say it but I will tonight's crowd was VERY DISAPPOINTING."

The idea of going To any sporting event To support the home team is to Be PRO ACTIVE!!! Give the team energy when they need it Not sitting down waiting To be REACTIVE. The players can’t say it but I will tonight’s crowd was VERY DISAPPOINTING

—@Bonsie1951

Criticism of quiet crowds at Scotiabank Arena is nothing new. Though Leaf fans travel well and tend to take over some visiting arenas in boisterous fashion (see Buffalo and Ottawa especially), Scotiabank Arena is often considered a comparatively reserved rink.

Many fans responded to Bowen with an age-old criticism — that lower bowl seats are reserved for corporate types because they're incredibly expensive:

Joe. When you charge $600 for a lower bowl seat, the real fans aren’t attending. I have had season tickets for 8 years and can’t afford my own seats in the playoffs. It’s ridiculous.

—@sportsonly67

JOE, the real fans are priced out! You've been around long enough to know that! The fun, noisy, crazy fans are out on the streets, or sitting at home watching the game on TV. The truth sucks, but its the truth for TORONTO!😕🇨🇦

—@Darkjed25684073

Others pointed out that the team hasn't exactly given fans much to cheer about over the last few years:

This group of Leafs have lost the right to have proactive fans. PTSD is real. You want proactive fans? Score more goals. Don’t collapse. Don’t give them every reason to doubt you’re going to win.

—@jordanmackinnon

The Bruins have had the Leafs' number in the playoffs over the last decade, beating the team in seven games in 2019, 2018, and famously in 2013 in the "it was 4-1" third period comeback debacle.

Boston currently leads the series two games to one, though the Leafs have been missing contributions from the likes of star winger William Nylander and surprising depth addition Bobby McMann, both of whom have yet to suit up for a game in the playoffs due to injury.

Special teams have proved to be much of the difference between the division rivals, with the Bruins scoring five out of 10 times on the power play so far, while the Leafs are languishing at a single goal out of 11 tries — a problem that often seems to rear its head for the team around this time of year.

The Leafs will be back in action against the Bruins Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, starting at 8 p.m. ET.