Canadian sports broadcaster and longtime TSN personality Darren Dutchien died Wednesday, the sports network announced Thursday. He was 57 years old.
TSN did not provide a cause of death. Dutchishen's family told TSN in a statement that Dutchishen “passed away surrounded by his closest loved ones.”
“His quick wit lasted until his final moments and he told many classic jokes, most of them very good and all of them inappropriate,” the family said.
Holland, a public sports figure in Canada, began his career at TSN in 1995 as host of the weekend editions of “SportsDesk” and “CFL Live.” He became a co-host of the network's “SportsCentre” news program and also hosted TSN's prime-time Olympic programs for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and the 2012 London Summer Games .
TSN mourns the loss of our friend and beloved SportsCentre host, Darren Dutchie. pic.twitter.com/Mb7m1IzCCY
-TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 16, 2024
Dutchie was born in Regina and raised in Porcupine, Saskatchewan. Before joining TSN, Dutchysen worked at STV and IMTV and hosted ITV's Sports Night in Edmonton for seven years.
“Darren Dutchyschen is a Canadian sports broadcasting legend, a great teammate and a vital part of TSN over the past three decades,” said Stuart Johnston, Senior Vice President of Sales and Sports at Bell Media. “Darren’s extraordinary personality, incredible sense of humor and magnetic energy made him a natural broadcaster who easily connected with audiences.
“His fame reminded us every day why we love sport. Most importantly, Darren was a friend to all of us at TSN and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and solidarity go out to their families.
What did the Dutchman mean to Canadian sports fans?
This is sad news for Canadian sports fans. Our generation grew up with the constant presence of Dutch in our world, guiding us through the highlights of the day on “SportsDesk” and later on “SportsCentre”.
His combination of gentle humor and genuine enthusiasm let you know he was one of us: a true sports fan who knew the games and could beat the odds, but with a barely-there smile that let you know how exciting it was. They bring us everything. Canadian sports media would not be the same without him. – Sean McIndoe, Senior NHL Writer
(Photo: Isaias Trickey/FilmMagic)
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