Fans also rushed to pay tribute to the star. Taking to Facebook one wrote: "This is hard today. I've listened to his show ever since I got satellite radio. He was a quintessential Canadian. Passionate about hockey, polite, kind, intelligent ... a sweethearted soul unlike any other talk show host. No vitriol no anger just good humour and knowledge. RIP Boomer."

Another added: "I listened almost every day for at least 16 years. Boom was a part of my day I looked forward to. I never felt connected to any tv/radio personality, (or ever felt a need to), but for many reasons, his passing has weirdly affected me, feeling like i lost a friend that I 'talked' to every day... It’s really weird how sad i feel about the loss of a voice of a guy I never actually knew. I don’t get it. But I do."

A third simply penned: "RIP Jim. It was always a pleasure listening to you." A fourth chimed in: "Sad to hear of Boomer Gordon passing away. Always listened to The Point on SiriusXM whenever I could. Have a beer at Jake’s Saloon."

A fifth shared: "RIP Jim 'Boomer' Gordon. He got me through thousands of miles in my truck talking hockey back when I drove a lot more." Meanwhile a sixth recalled: "His show was my drive-home ritual for years. Gone way too soon."

Radio legend Jim "Boomer" Gordon died at the age of 55 on Monday February 23 after a three and a half year battle with cancer. The news was poignantly confirmed live on air on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, at the time when his show The Point with Boomer Gordon always started. During the broadcast, many of his colleagues commented "he would have hated this," preferring that they just stick to the subject of hockey.

The channel also shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media. "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our friend and SiriusXM NHL Network Radio host Jim Boomer Gordon. After a courageous battle with cancer, Boomer passed away this week, surrounded by his loved ones. He will be greatly missed by us all, on and off the air." In his official obituary, his family revealed: "Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will follow at a later date."

Jim began his radio career as a producer before eventually landing his own show.

A huge music fan he began his daily show with Moby’s Extreme Ways, which was the theme song of the Jason Bourne movies.

For the show's second hour he always kicked off with The Rolling Stones’ Can’t You Hear Me Knocking? Alongside that he played his favourite tracks from beloved Canadian bands The Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who.

Despite treatment for cancer, he had continued to present his show until January 13 this year. The only day he wasn't on air was Fridays when he was undergoing chemotherapy and a guest host stepped in.