Harold Watson Neale[1] (born March 9, 1937) is a Canadian retired NCAA, NHL and WHA coach and general manager, and ice hockey broadcaster.
Following his playing career, Neale got his head coaching start at Hill Park Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, where he also taught social studies and physical education.
When the Canucks went unbeaten in the next 10 games, he was given the job full-time as the team advanced to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals.
At season's end, Neale was promoted to general manager (an arrangement made prior to the suspension).
[7] The Canucks fired Neale from his posts as vice president, general manager, and head coach in April 1985.
He then began working as a broadcaster full-time in 1986, where he was teamed with play-by-play man Bob Cole on CBC.
During this time, he also provided colour commentary for locally televised Toronto Maple Leafs games, pairing up with play-by-play broadcasters Jim Hughson, Ken Daniels, Jiggs McDonald, and Joe Bowen.
[12][13] He is known for the same sense of humour he was famous for as a coach, often referring to the puck as "..bouncing like an Indian Rubber (lacrosse) ball", as well as for his estimations of exact distances on the ice.
[17] In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in the coaching category.