But Danny and Jaime had come out this year, and we spent time with them. The 55-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their TV color . Olczyk, with Toronto Sun journalist Lefko, presents a gripping account of his remarkable life, from his selection for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Hockey team through his remarkable battle with colon cancer. Former Husky QB Jake Haener thinks he'll 'stack up with some of the top guys' at NFL combine, Smoothies and scavenger hunts: How UW's nutrition team fuels Husky football, Pac-12 men's basketball hot seats: Odds that UW's Mike Hopkins, others are gone after season, Hardwood Classic: Recaps and results from 2023 Washington state basketball tournament. Previously, he covered the Blackhawks and the White Sox for ESPN Chicago. Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for nationally ranked Penn State. To be around Ricky is big, because I dont always get the chance, Olczyk said of his brother, who was a team captain at Brown University and used his law degree to break into the NHL, serving as an AGM in Edmonton and Carolina. [10] Olczyk's daughter Zandra attended the University of Alabama. Michigan had the highest population of Olczyk families in 1920. In Seattle, Olczyk will be reunited with occasional TNT platform mate John Forslund on ROOT Sports Northwest and younger brother Rick Olczyk, an assistant GM of the Kraken. It will be a growing season within the booth next year for sure. But lets face it, the Blackhawks are trying to start anew. When Eddie Olczyk left the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth, there were reports that he would eventually land on his feet in Seattle. Born as Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk on 16 August 1966, Ed is a native of Chicago, Illinois. His deal expired after last season. The record was broken by Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks during the 201516 season. Clearly, the Blackhawks are taking the concept of a rebuild to a whole new level. Awesome! "For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to. He became, as Boyle put, "the soundtrack" to the Hawks' dynasty. It was a thrill for me to see both sons be so good and successful. Book a personalized video $49. Eddie Olczyk Jr., the son of former NHL forward and NBC Sports hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk, released the following statement Thursday on Twitter in response to countless messages the family has received after his father was diagnosed with colon cancer last week: Tweet from @Edzo16: Thank you for your support pic.twitter.com/MdKuObmPr6, "After what has been a very emotional number of days for my family, I'd like to say thank you for the unbelievable amount of support we have received," said Olczyk Jr., an assistant hockey coach at Bemidji State University. Its not what we knew. Wed never played together, never worked on a team together because of the age and stuff. My family and I appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on my treatments.". And so, it was fully wanting to ask their permission, and we just took our time.. Itll be great to be back home and Im sure it will be emotional for me on the inside, for sure. Ill walk in there as I always have and be proud of what Ive been able to do for the franchise over all these years. Having grown up in the hockey aspect of it, you just watch them all how they grow on the ice and as human beings,, About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. Nick played for the Colorado College Tigers and, in 2022, became a television studio analyst for the Seattle Kraken. T Eddie Olczyk is moving on from the organization after 16 seasons as the team's TV color analyst, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Chicago. Before he watched the late telecast of the race on TV, his wife called to tell him some grave news about her namesake thoroughbred. For me, what it did was it reassured me that I was in a pretty good place before I was sick. Hes focused on the present. 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. Eddie Olczyk Wife He married a beutiful woman called Diana Olczyk. He scored 180 points in the first three seasons of his hockey career that he spent with the Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. Chelios, well, I was impressed with ALL her commentary last season, of which she was trialed in all aspects. He was traded several times during his career. Its not normal. A little later, Olczyk leaves the restaurant, walks down a set of stairs and joins media members near the top of a set of bleachers to watch a hockey practice. Rather, we get to remember the calls that made celebrating their achievements that much more because he was part of sharing the good news. 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And so when I got sick, theres some peace with that.. Am I working with Kenny (Albert), or Johnny (Forslund) or Jonesy (Keith Jones) or J.T.? His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. Regarding a replacement for Eddie, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic brought up the names of Patrick Sharp, Adam Burish, and Caley Chelios. He attended Brother Rice Catholic High School. I feel bad, but its hard not to do that.. "We're very, very blessed. Through their ups and downs, he was the voice of reason for Chicago and was one of the teams biggest ambassadors. He owned a thoroughbred he named Diana O., after his wife. Honestly, more disappointed than surprised. Theres great disappointment, but this was my decision. Leiweke pitched Olczyk as he does anyone he wants to hire: He sells being part of a new NHL franchise and all the exciting things happening within the organization. (Photo courtesty of NBC Sports) Eddie Olczyk played five seasons with the New York Rangers and was part of their Stanley Cup championship team in 1994. "Both my boys and my brother, and (general manager) Ronnie Francis, we. When thinking about most of the games Olczyk worked last year, they were mainly with Foley before he joined Chris Vosters for a handful of games toward the end of the season. "The hockey world is something we wouldn't trade for anything, and the positivity and encouraging messages that have come our way during this unexpected and difficult time has truly been incredible. Those who are a fan of image upscaling and Fallout 4 will be pleased to him some grave news about her namesake thoroughbred. Not because its not possible, but more so because the void that Foley and Olczyk leave will be extremely difficult to fill. He was born and raised here, and he played for the Blackhawks. So, its going to be fun.. [13] In March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially "cancer-free. Eddie Olczyk believes that should be great for the network and the league. According to a source, the Hawks would not give him the same contract length that the Kraken did. Eddie Olczyk. He would have been honest, but also positive, about the new direction. The yellow pamphlet was an invitation to learn how to skate at Ballard Sports Complex in Niles, Illinois. With Eddie and Ricky being four years apart and Eddie leaving home when he was 16 to play hockey, they spent only a part of their childhoods together. He has also written for the Daily Herald and the Chicago Sun-Times and has been a sportswriter in the Chicagoland area for the past 15 years. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File . He has represented the organization as well as anyone could, through good times and bad. Hall of Fame play-by-play voice Pat Foley and Olczyk worked together for 14 years, and they were always entertaining and informative. Im still trying my hardest to get up to speed with Chris Vosters. Olczyk was also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 2003 to . She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. "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. Steele retired all six Padres batters he faced, then headed to the bullpen to throw 25 more pitches. There is something fun about being a pioneer, Leiweke said. Can you guys wear a name tag for me? With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have. He joined the Hurricanes as assistant general manager in June 2014. It was five years ago last month that Olczyk announced he was stepping away from NBC work to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments. His deal expired after last season. "Our lives are hockey," Nick said. That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' Like many Blackhawks fans, Edzo has done a lot for me. in NHL history, Rangers, Bruins, other Beasts of the East feast on NHL trade deadline, Chasing history in Boston: The numbers behind the Bruins' wild 2022-23 season, McDavid, then who? On Oct. 15, 2012, Eddie Olczyk before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2012 induction dinner in Dallas. However, we are unknown to the identity of his parents. I suspect that well see a cast of characters come and go throughout the season, each taking their rightful turn at proving why the role should be theirs. The team will be hard enough to watch. Olczyk missed much of the 199394 season recovering from a thumb injury suffered in a game versus the Florida Panthers on January 3, 1994; he took part in one playoff game (conference final game 6)[4] and on June 14, 1994, became Stanley Cup champion with the Rangers. Or do you want to spend your remaining time in the limelight youve always known? Its impossible to replace legendary broadcasters like Olczyk, so its hard for anyone to live up to those expectations. The boys have a lot of those traits. In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. But it was not meant to be. He didnt elaborate on theirlove. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. The NFL pro-turned-sports-analysts life revolves around hockey and Eddie Olczyks wife is also a fan of the sport. But the Kraken really liked what they saw and felt he could be their Swiss Army knife, so to speak.. Eight months and one day after his final chemotherapy session was finished, Eddie Olczyk stood on a platform stage Monday night, flanked by banner-sized portraits of Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe.. His tiring flight schedule throughout his career had an upside. One of the best in the business. But before the horse made it to the finish line, she suffered an injury. Thank you Eddie for all you have done for the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago, and best of luck on your newest adventure! That didn't stop him from continuing to pursue a hockey career, and Ricky made his own way to the NHL through the front office. It wasnt a secret he was due a new deal in the summer. He had worked many national games with Forslund over the years, so there was immediate comfort there. June 7th, 2022 Birthday. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . "Negotiations are hard," Olczyk said. 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. If one thing's certain, however, it's that "Eddie-O" will forever be a Chicago legend. That something new is the Seattle Kraken. His son Nick discussed a TV studio analyst role with the Kraken and signed with the organization before his father did. Yet the Hawks paved the way for both of their exits, skewing younger and more social-media-savvy. Olczyk is Chicago, just like Foley. He'll be back on his feet, in the booth, and at the track in no time. I think both sides certainly expected to get a contract done. That was hard to hear because it seemed like all the Blackhawks had to do was give him what he wanted. Im not confident that theyll find their permanent fit by next season. However, it feels like there may have also been a little more at play in this particular scenario. And Im happy for the organization, obviously, on a professional level, but on a personal level, Im just ecstatic and over the moon.. It was on a flight with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him in 1984 NHL draft, that he met Diana. On April 8, 2010, Olczyk returned to Pittsburgh to join more than 50 former Pittsburgh Penguins players being honored in a pregame ceremony before the final regular season game at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. Happy to say I've done that today.". Ricky also happens to be a Kraken assistant general manager. as well as a few other broadcasts, he accumulated many frequent flier miles! In the past two years, he also has covered Triple Crown and other major horse racing events for NBC. His son Eddie was a Kraken amateur scout. That's as far as I'm gonna go on that. And its OK to get that in there. I think that's a perfect slogan if you can quote our family.". He has his gig with TNT to call national hockey games and he reportedly is in agreement to broadcast games with the Seattle Kraken (even though he didn't verbally admit it). The family shared Eddie's hockey journey, turning out-of-state hockey tournaments into vacations. His son, Nick, has rented near him, but on a more permanent basis as he develops Kraken content across TV, radio and digital platforms. He is one of us, a Blackhawks fan. Later tied by Phil Kessel, the record would stand until being passed by Patrick Kane in 2015-16 season. They couldn't come to terms on a new contract. Among the three brothers, the family agrees that Nick is the best hockey player, second only to their father. The Family Man. When Nick had expressed an interest in broadcasting after his college career, Olczyk encouraged him to seek opportunities anywhere he could. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. The nurse keeps popping in and out not to check on Diana, but to tell Olczyk that the Maple Leafs. "We were simple people. And then he started a 16-year long broadcasting journey with them in 2006.. "Hockey has always been a part of my fabric in every academic endeavor I've done," said Ricky, 45, who was recently named to the management staff for Team Europe's entry in the World Cup of Hockey. If it was me, I would give her a shot. He wanted theopportunity to join the winners circle with Diana O. one day. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. 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. Some changes perhaps will be for the better, but letting the best hockey analyst on TV walk out the door will not be one of them. You need that entering a rebuild, and theyre missing out. About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. According to a source, the Hawks would not give him the same contract length that the Kraken did. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential . An avid enthusiast of thoroughbred horse racing, Eddie Olczyk also served as guest commentator at major horse racing events for NBC Sports. No one will ever be able to replace Edzo, but you need those traits for the lead analyst role. Albert and Olczyk joined TNT after the Finals as their lead broadcast team (erstwhile NBC studio analyst Keith Jones was later added to join the pair).[7]. He'd thought about it plenty while mourning with his younger brother, Ricky, a Kraken assistant general manager, and the rest of his close-knit family in their Chicago hometown, where onetime NHL. Neither would eleven, five, or even six. "They love what they're doing," Ed said of his sons. But if youre Olczyk, do you really want to do that?Just like with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Like the Blackhawks who seemed to always put competing at the forefront, Eddie led with passion in all he did for the franchise. We're excited to welcome award-winning broadcaster & @NHL veteran Eddie Olczyk to the #SeaKraken family where he'll join @JohnForslund & @JTBrown23 in the Kraken broadcast . Eddie also leads hockey analyst for NHL on NBC and, The Chicago Blackhawks. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. [1], Olczyk grew up in Niles, Illinois and Palos Heights, Illinois and went to Brother Rice Catholic High School. Well. I always wanted to have my job combine my two loves -- hockey and law -- eventually. He was born on August 16, 1966 and his birthplace is Chicago, United States. Its certainly unique, Ricky said. There was a contract offer on the table. He is currently assistant general manager for the Carolina Hurricanes. Eddie Olczyk. Eddie Olczyk has a high-flying career literally. He understands Chicago fans, and he connected with them so well because of that. Olczyk took the high road by owning the decision to leave, but he didnt arrive at it alone. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. His older fans followed him from his days in National Hockey League while his younger fans .