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He will be deeply missed. Contents: Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk Jr. is an American former professional hockey player and head coach from the United States. Eddie Olczyk revealed that he has cancer but wont let it defeat him thanks to the support of his wife and family. But, now he's moving on. Later tied by Phil Kessel, the record would stand until being passed by Patrick Kane in 2015-16 season. The Hawks and Olczyk had been talking for weeks about a potential contract, but the team essentially let him test free agency. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Eddie Olczyk, Former NHL player, coach, and commentator It was not until August 4, 2017, that his life changed forever. And just make sure I walk into the right booth. Eddie Olczyk had built a life and career most people could only dream of. Scott Powers is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Blackhawks. All Rights Reserved. That rumor has become a reality. "For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to have legendary broadcaster Eddie Olczyk bring Chicago Blackhawks hockey into the homes of our fans. Olczyk took the high road by owning the decision to leave, but he didnt arrive at it alone. An avid enthusiast of thoroughbred horse racing, Eddie Olczyk also served as guest commentator at major horse racing events for NBC Sports. He worked on the coaching staff of Niagara Universitys hockey team and is currently a coach at Bemidji State University, UMass. His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. He was born and raised here, and he played for the Blackhawks. Everyone's schedule had to be in sync to get to practices on time. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. Eddie Olczyk released a statement sayinghe wasdiagnosed with colon cancer. CHICAGO (AP) Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. Over the past year, its been obvious the Blackhawks are trying to get younger in nearly all aspects of their organization, including the broadcast. Hes taken in some of the scenery and gotten to know the area. He shares the same sentiment about his departure. Everybodys saying, get ready, get ready, the rains coming, the rains coming. Im like, I dont know, maybe. In his NBC Sports horse racing debut on June 28, 2014, Olczyk correctly picked the longshot winner in both races on the $500,000 Gold Cup in the "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" telecast. Eddie's youngest son, Nick, 19, plays for the South Shore Kings of the U.S. Premier Hockey League and will play at Colorado College beginning next season. At the same time , Its strange, Nick Olczyk says later. He called the Blackhawks' games through a historic run of championship hockey. Clearly, the Blackhawks are taking the concept of a rebuild to a whole new level. As a youth, Olczyk played in the 1978 and 1979 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Chicago. Join host Nick Olczyk for exclusive interviews, analysis, and dispatches from the road. For a working-class family, that wasn't always easy. Sure, youre getting older, and the glory days might be more behind you than in front of you. Eddie Olczyk serves as a handicapper and analyst for NBC Sports' Triple Crown horse racing coverage. Im not confident that theyll find their permanent fit by next season. But despite Rocky Wirtzs feelings for him, the Hawks drew a line with Olczyk. Wed never played together, never worked on a team together because of the age and stuff. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. With reports indicating that Olczyk is heading to Seattle for the 2022-23 season, he obviously wasnt suffering for other opportunities. Thats just whatever. On Oct. 15, 2012, Eddie Olczyk before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2012 induction dinner in Dallas. He underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. I worked with the kids and stuff. Despite adding marquee free-agents, the Penguins started the season with a disappointing 8176 record, leading to Olczyk's dismissal on December 15.[5]. Perfect hires, Blackhawks forever, and so I think its a win-win for them doing the games, Olczyk said. Or do you want to spend your remaining time in the limelight youve always known? People always ask me with the cancer whether I look at things differently now than I did before I was sick, Olczyk said. Listening to Foley and Olczyk was part of the whole Blackhawks experience. Im frustrated that the Blackhawks could not get a deal done, and Im sad because of what the team will miss. And then theres general manager Ron Francis, who was roommates with Olczyk in the final season for both with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1997-98. He did over 200 games in Indy and got an unbelievable opportunity when my former linemate, Troy, got sick. Having said that, this is a huge, huge blow for the Blackhawks and their fans. The 55-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their TV color . Absolutely. Saying that tongue-in-cheek as I'm eating my heart out. Since making his sports broadcast debut, traveling between cities is still a part of Eddie Olzcyks schedule. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. Olczyk, who has been on Hawks broadcasts since 2006, couldnt reach an agreement with management on a new contract. Of all the NHL transactions this offseason, one of the most unexpected was Olczyk leaving his hometown team and the Blackhawks broadcast after 16 seasons to join the Kraken. Heres what you need to know about Eddie Olczyks wife, Diana Olczyk. Having walked in that building for 16 straight years, under some real emotional time, not only franchise-wise but also personally, spent a lot of my life there, so Im sure the time to reminisce and be able to really kind of sit back. And its been hard with my mother. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. We both do it with [other brother] Randy as well.". Thats the pull announcers have in Chicago. Once the time came, the longtime broadcaster initiated meetings with Rocky and Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner. 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As time passed and Olczyk hadnt signed a new contract with the Blackhawks, there was the growing possibility he could become a free agent. "How ironic," Olczyk said . In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. He truly became the face of the franchise with Foley, and they are what made people feel at home when watching games. Midway through a radio broadcast last January, Nick made an emergency TV debut filling in for his dad, who was taken to a hospital with what turned out to be a minor illness. 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Editorial Reviews. Before he watched the late telecast of the race on TV, his wife called to. Because there are a couple of times over the years where I was doing a lot of games, maybe doing like five in six (days), and I think I called Doc (Emrick) Pat (Foley) and Pat, Doc. Olczyk, who turns 51 on Aug. 16, has been the in-game analyst for Chicago Blackhawks games on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN-TV since the 2006-07 season. Rather, we get to remember the calls that made celebrating their achievements that much more because he was part of sharing the good news. If thats the case, do you blame him? He was teammates with Eddie and now works with Ricky, and Francis wasn't surprised the brothers each reached the NHL. Olczyk still doesnt want to get too into why he passed on the Blackhawks contract offer and ultimately left the team. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Nevertheless, he will always be a Blackhawk and will forever be part of the Chicago family. "I had a great meeting earlier today with Rocky Wirtz and had a great meeting with Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner. But if youre Olczyk, do you really want to do that?Just like with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Eddie Olczyk Wife He married a beutiful woman called Diana Olczyk. . His son, Eddie Jr., who played junior hockey with Brown in the USHL, was already a Kraken scout, while his other son, Nick, has also joined the ROOT broadcast crew. He hopes that with the support and encouragement from my family, the Chicago Blackhawks organization, NBC Sports and all my friends and fans he will be back in the broadcast booth soon. But before the horse made it to the finish line, she suffered an injury. This was Olczyk making his way through the Kraken Community Iceplex and watching the Krakens morning skate prior to joining John Forslund and J.T. Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. My plan was to be in Indy for four years, and then I was starting to put feelers out for American League color jobs, said Nick, who was hired, along with Alison Lukan, for a studio analyst role this season. Ultimately, fans will have a favourite or two by the seasons end, but I think it may still take a few years before anyone has the type of following that Foley and Olczyk were able to accumulate. The hockey tradition has also carried on with Eddie's three sons, who are all coaching and playing hockey. as well as a few other broadcasts, he accumulated many frequent flier miles! Am I working with Kenny (Albert), or Johnny (Forslund) or Jonesy (Keith Jones) or J.T.? He coached the Penguins for two seasons between 2003-05, going 31-64-10 with eight ties. And its OK to get that in there. The Blackhawks teardown includes the TV booth. Fans knew that the iconic duo of Pat Foley and Olczyk calling Blackhawks games wouldnt last forever, but no one expected it to end this abruptly. Olczyk was tied with Phil Kessel for the second-longest point streak by an American-born player in NHL history, at 18 games, having set the original mark in 198990, while with Toronto. One of the best in the business. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. He owned a thoroughbred he named Diana O., after his wife. Now, I completely respect Olczyks decision to step aside, especially if the two sides were not willing to come to an agreement. In any case, we are obscure to the character of his folks. Ill leave it at that. He's said to us for years, 'The true colors of someone, some team, or some thing are not when times are good, but when times are tough.' He continues through another door that leads him outside, then through another door back inside. On July 11, 2012, Olczyk became the 16th Blackhawks player elected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Like many Blackhawks fans, Edzo has done a lot for me. Olczyk said details for the planned three-man setup remain in flux. Olczyk won't return as a color commentator for Hawks games on NBC Sports Chicago,. The 18 game streak would remain a Toronto franchise record (tied with Darryl Sittler until being surpassed in December 2022 by Mitch Marner. After signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings in 1996, he would not finish the season with them before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Glen Murray. Sign up for our regular 'Blackhawks Newsletter' for all the latest. Chelios, well, I was impressed with ALL her commentary last season, of which she was trialed in all aspects. The Blackhawks granted that permission, which Olczyk said surprised him. Hes focused on the present. He has learned to sleep on planes over the years, so that helps. The actor suffered a brain aneurysm Feb. 18 at his Los Angeles home and died in his sleep Friday at a hospital in Burbank, California, his manager said. Olczyk stated, Negotiations are hard. Eddie Olczyk joined the Seattle Kraken broadcast team as a television analyst Thursday. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. They already have had significant layoffs in the organization, and now with Foley and Olczyk off the payroll and a cost-saving rebuild underway they can save more. In a seismic event in the Chicago sports market, the Blackhawks and TV analyst Eddie Olczyk are parting ways. Eddie's youngest son, Nick, 19, plays for the South Shore Kings of the U.S. Premier Hockey League and will play at Colorado College beginning next season. Despite ample legal trouble, Sizemore had steady film and television credits. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he was the most skilled of the "Clydesdales," playing on a line with Troy Murray and Curt Fraser early in his Blackhawks career. "Having the support and encouragement from my family, the Chicago Blackhawks organization, NBC Sports and all my friends and fans means the world to me and will give me continued strength to beat this. The loss of Olczyk in the broadcasting booth makes me very sad. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. Where Is Bryan Penn-Johnson from Last Chance U Season 2 Now? Since the 201819 NHL season, "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Brian Boucher joins Emrick, Olczyk, and McGuire for big games. Its certainly unique, Ricky said. We . Eddie Olczyk has a high-flying career literally. Nicks hiring by the Kraken did help make Olczyks decision easier. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. He is a class act. Olczyk was also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 2003 to December 2005. He got to see his old team and his good friend Troy Murray at the Blackhawks game in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche to begin the season, which felt good. Olczyk had talked to a lot of people since the news broke, but he hadnt really seen many Blackhawks personnel since then. I don't know why we're so deserving of these fortunes. Theres negotiations, and we agreed to disagree, and everybody has moved on, he said. Im still trying my hardest to get up to speed with Chris Vosters. With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have. On Buzzlearn.com, Eddie is listed as a successful Hockey Player who was born in the year of 1966. Eddie Olczyk was born on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Eddie Olczyk (right) and Pat Foley are calling Blackhawks playoff games together but apart. Look, I never thought Id leave home. Lets face it; he was the voice of the Blackhawks for the last 16 years. Exactly one year after his diagnosis, there was one goal remaining: Olczyk was to watch son Eddie Jr. get married Saturday. But I dont see that happening for a long time. He took a break from his broadcast activities and is currently receiving treatment. His deal expired after last season. Itll always be home. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. I just expressed to them that I felt at this particular time it was best for me step away. Olczyk explained he tried to keep a "low profile" during the day. He attended Brother Rice Catholic High School. The Hawks have been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. Olczyk was also the lead color commentator for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Men's Ice Hockey, where he partnered with Mike Emrick and "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Pierre McGuire.