Longtime TSN anchor Darren Dutchyshen died Wednesday at the age of 57, Bell Media announced.
“Darren Dutchyshen was a legend of Canadian sports broadcasting, a great teammate and an integral part of TSN for the past three decades,” said Stewart Johnston, Senior Vice President of Sales & Sports at Bell Media.
“Darren was a towering personality, his incredible sense of humor and magnetic energy made him a natural presenter who could easily connect with viewers. His enthusiasm reminded us every day why we love sport. Most of all, Darren was a friend to all of us at TSN and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family.”
In a statement, Dutchyshen’s family said he died surrounded by his closest relatives.
“His sharp wit remained intact until his final moments, and he delivered, in classic style, many jokes – most of them quite good and all of them inappropriate.”
The Canadian sports presenter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, which forced him to step away from his profession. He returned to the show in September 2022.
Dutchyshen was born in Regina and grew up in Porcupine Plain, Sask. He joined TSN in 1995 as the weekend anchor of TSN’s SportsDesk and TSN’s coverage of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Most recently, he anchored the late-night editions of SportsCenter with co-host Rod Smith and later with Jennifer Hedger.
In a press release, a TSN spokesperson said the network will honor Dutchyshen and his legacy in the coming days.
Dutchyshen leaves behind his wife Candice and three children.
“Gamer. Introvert. Problem solver. Creator. Thinker. Lifelong food evangelist. Alcohol advocate.”