A tough day Wednesday in Moose Country as we learned of the passing of our beloved anthem singer Peter Baylis.
He was such a huge part of the Halifax Mooseheads game experience for 15 seasons with his unique style of O Canada.
Peter’s energy pumped up the thousands of fans in the stands and players on ice. He once told me that players from the visiting teams told him they even got amped up after hearing his version of O Canada.
Pete wore Mooseheads number 63 because it was the year he was born. He was just 62.
He was a huge Montreal Canadiens fan. When Halifax hosted the 2019 Memorial Cup he wore the same black suit coat as his idol, the legendary Canadiens anthem singer Roger Doucet wore. Roger inspired Peter as a kid.
(Above during the Memorial Cup hosted by the Mooseheads with alumni Jonathan Drouin, Pascal LeClaire and Alex Tanguay.)
Peter also sang O Canada at the Halifax Play On! street hockey tournaments over the years on Cogswell Street.
(Above Peter sings O Canada at the Play On! street hockey tournament that my wife Roxanne and I helped run on Cogswell Street.)
He was well-known in local bands like The Hopping Penguins with their summer appearances at the Shore Club in Hubbards and Steps Around The House at the concerts on Citadel Hill.
In 2017 during Canada’s 150th anniversary, he made a pledge to sing 150 O Canada anthems in public. He did so, including joining Dana Thompson and I on Hot Country Mornings, for a few. Peter’s dream came true by performing number 150 on Canada Day, July 1st, 2017. He also co-hosted with me when Dana was on vacation. Oh, the stories he told.
He was very generous with his time and talents, and was a really nice guy.
(Above: The night the Mooseheads won the President Cup on home ice on May 10, 2023,)
I’ll miss our pregame chats and fist bumps that were tradition when he walked in from the ice after performing.
(Above: Peter and Ian during the Covid years.)
(Above: Peter with brother Tony and Ian before his last O Canada performance on September 20, 2025.)
After being diagnosed with brain cancer just a few months ago on May 26th this year, Peter let me know over the summer that he was determined to sing O Canada at our Home Opener and he did so on September 20th in true Peter Baylis style, with his brother Tony joining him on the ice. There wasn’t a dry eye in the rink.
(Above: Peter’s final O Canada on September 20, 2025 joined by brother Tony and Mooseheads owners Sam and Peter Simon.)
(Above: Bruce MacKinnon’s tribute cartoon to Peter from this past summer.)
To his wife Jennifer, daughter Lucy, brother Tony and the rest of his family our deepest sympathy.
Our games will never be the same.
We will honour Peter our rink brother this Saturday afternoon at 3pm with a pregame tribute and a moment of silence for our Mooseheads family member.
Moose Country loves ya, brother!
And one more thing: GO MOOSE GOOOOOO! 
-Ian (Halifax Mooseheads Public Address Announcer since 1997 and long-time friend of Peter Baylis.
(Credits: Ian Robinson photos.)
