RDS Pioneer Michel Y. Lacroix Announces Retirement After 36-Year Legacy
Michel Y. Lacroix, a cornerstone of the Réseau des sports (RDS) since its inception, is stepping away from the microphone. After a storied career spanning more than 36 years, the veteran broadcaster announced on April 6, 2026, that he is officially retiring from the network.
Lacroix will call his final game on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 7 p.m., capping off his tenure with a broadcast of the Ottawa Senators. The retirement marks the end of an era for a man who has been a fixture of French-language sports media in Canada since 1989.
Joining RDS at the extremely start, Lacroix established himself as a true pioneer, mastering nearly every role in front of the camera. His early career included work as an editor, journalist, and news anchor for the Sports 30 bulletin until 1999. Over the following decades, his versatility allowed him to cover a vast array of global sporting events, including the Olympic Games and the World Hockey Championships.
Lacroix’s impact extended across multiple disciplines. He spent over 30 years describing curling—working alongside analyst Guy Hemmings and the late Marco Ferraro—and collaborated frequently with colleague Claudine Douville on soccer productions. In the hockey world, he spent the last 12 seasons as a primary voice for the Ottawa Senators, sharing the booth with longtime partner Norman Flynn.
Reflecting on his journey, Lacroix expressed deep gratitude toward the leadership that guided the network’s success, specifically mentioning Gérald Janneteau, who was instrumental in the launch of RDS, as well as Gerry Frappier and Charles Perreault. He also credited his first boss, Yvon Vadnais, and Domenic Vannelli for their support throughout the second half of his career.
“RDS has been my second family over five decades and I will always be grateful for the privilege I was granted,” Lacroix stated, even as offering sincere thanks to the sports fans and viewers who followed his work over the years.
The announcement has been met with tributes from the sports community, including the Ottawa Senators organization, which congratulated Lacroix on his retirement and his 12 years of dedicated coverage of the team.
