Kelly Bowers, who passed away on Tuesday, was part of the CJVR broadcast team for many years when the station broadcast Saskatoon Hilltops and University of Saskatchewan Huskies games. (Facebook/Neil Shewchuk)

By Mat Barrett

Shewchuk on Bowers

‘Kelly was the room’: Former CJVR play-by-play voice reflects on life of Kelly Bowers

Sep 19, 2019 | 2:56 PM

Saskatoon sports legend Kelly Bowers passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 19 and now his former broadcasting partner is reflecting.

Neil Shewchuk first met Kelly Bowers when CJVR in Melfort started broadcasting Saskatoon Hilltops and University of Saskatchewan Huskies football games. At first, Bowers was the assistant coach of the Hilltops, but after he was done there, he came up to the broadcast booth and started doing colour commentary for the broadcasts for years with Shewchuk who stopped calling those games in 2007. Shewchuk said it was a sad day when he heard about the news of Bowers passing.

“The typical things a person goes through,” he said. “The denial, then wondering what happened. But I think it was just total shock and total sadness that someone that I knew that always almost seemed invincible had passed away.”

Shewchuk said even though they were a broadcast team, they had great chats about things other than football. He said they would talk about plenty of stuff on the bus rides, like missing home, and their families. Shewchuk said they had their fun, but they were also great supports for each other.

Neil Shewchuk (Right) and Kelly Bowers (Left) were a team in the broadcast booth up until 2007 when Shewchuk stopped calling the football games in Saskatoon. (Facebook/Neil Shewchuk)

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Bowers was known all over the Saskatoon sports world. He was involved with football a great deal, but also dabbled in basketball, tennis, wrestling, and many other sports. Shewchuk said Bowers was completely involved when it came to sports and young athletes. He said when it came to football and recruiting, Bowers had already known a player since his junior high days before he came to the Huskies.

“Kelly was just totally invested in high school athletics and watching young athletes mature into adults,” Shewchuk told northeastNOW. “And to compete at the CIS level.”

Bowers was also a teacher and was very involved in volunteering. He was known across the Saskatoon sports scene for his big booming voice and infectious personality.

Shewchuk said that some people would say everyone knew when Kelly was in the room.

“Kelly was the room,” he said.

“If he was happy and jovial, everybody around him was happy and jovial,” Shewchuk said. “And would always have a smile on their face around Kelly Bowers.”

Bowers has been honoured multiple times for his contributions to the Saskatoon sporting scene. In 2011, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a builder. Prior to that, he received the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association Award of merit in 2007, and in 2001, he was named the Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year.

With Bowers being so involved with young athletes, and just young people in general, Shewchuk told northeastNOW what Kelly would tell kids now.

“Never give up,” he said. “Stay committed, be true to yourself, and never let a dream die.”