Popular Hall of Fame Hockey Broadcaster Retires

If there was any doubt how beloved broadcaster Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick is in the hockey world, the media conference call to mark his retirement put it to rest. A number of high-profile friends ‘crashed’ the call, including NBC exec Sam Flood, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, fellow broadcast legend Al Michaels and Emrick’s long-time booth partner, Eddie Olczyk.

Emrick is hanging up his microphone cord after 47 years of broadcasting pro games and 50 years of hockey journalism and it was an emotional Olczyk who really put Emrick’s impact into perspective.

“I thank you,” Olczyk said. “We all thank you, Doc, for your passion, your love for the game, your appreciation and love for people and I thank you for trusting me 14 years ago when Sam gave me the opportunity to sit next to you for the first time on NBC.”

The fact so many high-profile names took time out of their schedules to celebrate Emrick publicly speaks volumes, but the reason the play-by-play ace is so universally revered is that he treated everyone involved in hockey with the same kindness – which of course includes the fans. KEEP READING
Leave a Reply