Date of Birth: 1880
Place of Birth: St. John’s, Nfld.
Inducted: 2000 (Media Category)

John M. (Jack) Tobin made an important impact on the complete athletic scene in the St. John’s area for about 50 years.

Born in 1880, he died in 1956 and, while his efforts were on behalf of the complete athletic community, he was especially kind to hockey, his favorite sport.

After attending St. Bon’s, he graduated from St. Francis Xavier College in Nova Scotia. He played on or coached four teams that won the St. John’s senior hockey title and the historic Boyle Trophy, including coaching the 1934 Holy Cross team.

He was one of the best hockey referees around after retiring from playing and made exceptional contributions to hockey as an official and an administrator.

But Jack Tobin is best known as the first local hockey play-by-play announcer who called games all over Newfoundland and attracted a large audience. He provided excellent entertainment and promoted hockey with his “Over The Blue Line With Tobin.”

The Tobin Tie Cup was donated to St. John’s hockey in 1956 to honor his memory, and remains one of the major trophies within hockey.

He was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame in 1977.