Jim “Boomer” Gordon, the cherished host of “The Point” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, after bravely battling cancer. He was 55.
His death was shared on the satellite radio station on Monday at the exact moment his show would normally begin — a touching farewell for a voice that had become part of hockey fans’ daily routine. The announcement followed Gordon’s leave of absence at the end of January as his health worsened after fighting cancer for more than three years.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our friend and SiriusXM NHL Network Radio host Jim Boomer Gordon,” SiriusXM NHL Network Radio posted on social media, noting that he had fought courageously and passed away with loved ones at his side.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Gordon earned his famed nickname from a colleague who thought he resembled Toronto Blue Jays pitcher David “Boomer” Wells. He joined the channel as a producer on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio in its early days in late 2005, sitting alongside Hall of Famer Phil Esposito before eventually taking on his own program.
“The Point with Boomer Gordon” became must-listen radio for hockey fans throughout North America, airing daily from 1–3 p.m. ET during the season. Gordon’s vast NHL knowledge, dry wit, and rugged but relaxed Canadian delivery made him beloved by hardcore followers and casual listeners alike. Fans in non-traditional hockey markets particularly valued how easily he connected with audiences everywhere.
The show included memorable recurring bits that listeners adored, such as “dropping a bomb” — complete with explosion effects — on underperforming NHL players. His summer lineup featured regular segments like “Team Previews,” “GM Scorecards,” and the fan-favorite “Hey Bud, What’s Your Problem,” where Gordon laid out each team’s issues, capped by Sean Penn’s Jeff Spicoli line from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” He also shared “My Non-Hockey Thought That Is a Hockey Thought,” airing observations and complaints in his signature candid style.
A trailblazer in fantasy hockey media, Gordon dedicated an hour each week to detailed analysis that appealed equally to fantasy experts and casual fans. With an almost photographic memory for obscure stats and past draft picks, he asked interview questions that even seasoned guests rarely encountered.
A devoted music lover, Gordon opened each show with Moby’s “Extreme Ways,” best known from the Jason Bourne films. The second hour always kicked off with The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” and his bumper music often highlighted his favorite Canadian bands — The Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and The Guess Who.
Despite declining health, Gordon continued broadcasting live until Jan. 13, pushing through chemotherapy treatments every Friday. His longtime co-host and former intern Jake Hahn filled in during his absence, with Wednesday’s episode serving as a tribute. Many colleagues remarked that “he would have hated this,” believing he would rather they simply talk hockey on the Toronto-based station.
Tributes poured in from throughout the hockey community after news of his death. The NHL issued a statement noting that fans “were entertained by his passion and benefited from his analysis of our game and knowledge of fantasy hockey.”
Gordon often said local NHL broadcasts “should feel like comfort food.” The sentiment perfectly reflected what he meant to his own audience — warm, familiar, and endlessly enjoyable. Fellow SiriusXM host Mick Kern called him “a sports fanatic with a steel-trap mind” who rose from Hamilton’s steel mills to become one of hockey radio’s defining voices.
Gordon is survived by his mother Christine and stepfather David Peddle, sisters Susan and Heather, brother-in-law Ian Thornton, and nieces and nephews Madelyn, Shannon, Laszlo, and Clementine. His father, James Richard Gordon, passed away in 2014. A lifelong sports enthusiast who proudly notched two holes-in-one, Gordon was cremated, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
The family asks that donations in Gordon’s honor be made to Hockey Fights Cancer or the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.
