He's expected to work . "For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to. Like the Blackhawks who seemed to always put competing at the forefront, Eddie led with passion in all he did for the franchise. All Rights Reserved. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. "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. His brother, Rick Olczyk, is the assistant general manager of the Kraken, and his son Eddie, Jr., is an amateur scout for the team. Hes a Chicago native who grew up a Hawks fan and was the teams first-round draft pick in 1984. And then he started a 16-year long broadcasting journey with them in 2006.. Clearly, the Blackhawks are taking the concept of a rebuild to a whole new level. Olczyk stated, Negotiations are hard. Eddie skated, and a hockey family was born. By: Caroline John - Published: August 9, 2017 at 10:20 am, Photo: Ronald Martinez / Staff/ Getty Images. Eddie also leads hockey analyst for NHL on NBC and, The Chicago Blackhawks. Ricky has been the [family] captain and caretaker of my dad. Book a personalized video $49. The Hawks offered him one, but Olczyk decided it was time for him to leave. He and Pat Foley, who is also now gone. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. [1] Career [ edit] Happy to say I've done that today.". (AP Photo/LM Otero, File . These are some really, really big shoes to fill. He continues through another door that leads him outside, then through another door back inside. Once the time came, the longtime broadcaster initiated meetings with Rocky and Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner. On Buzzlearn.com, Eddie is listed as a successful Hockey Player who was born in the year of 1966. He had worked many national games with Forslund over the years, so there was immediate comfort there. And coming out of those heavy days, entering the final year of his Blackhawks broadcast deal, Olczyk, 55, decided there was a remaining hockey dream hed like to fulfill if afforded the opportunity. Eddie Olczyk (right) and Pat Foley are calling Blackhawks playoff games together but apart. The weathers been unbelievable, Olczyk said. Eddie III spent a season with the Bloomington Thunder of the SPHL, has been an assistant coach with the Bemidji State Beavers, and is an amateur scout for the Kraken. Short Bio. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. His travel is longer. No. 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.' And so when I got sick, theres some peace with that.. In 1920 there were 2 Olczyk families living in Michigan. In any case, we are obscure to the character of his folks. He was traded several times during his career. But even before Olczyk officially hit the market in July, the Kraken reached out to the Blackhawks and asked permission to talk to him while he was still under contract. Later tied by Phil Kessel, the record would stand until being passed by Patrick Kane in 2015-16 season. [13] In March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially "cancer-free. Olczyk explained he tried to keep a "low profile" during the day. The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. He coached the Penguins for two seasons between 2003-05, going 31-64-10 with eight ties. Of course, not knowing the details of the negotiation, its hard to gauge what that offer may or may not have looked like. All Rights Reserved. He returned to Pittsburgh to become the color commentator for the Penguins on FSN Pittsburgh, where he was given the nickname "Edzo" by current radio announcer and then co-announcer Mike Lange. He scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on October 11, 1984, versus the Detroit Red Wings in Chicago Stadium against Greg Stefan. Olczyks son spent four seasons as a radio analyst on ECHL Indy Fuel broadcasts. Burish seems like someone who could fly off the handle, or perhaps not be as controlled or professional as the organization might want. 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. His contract with the Blackhawks expired on June 30, and a team source said the leadership group was "blindsided" by Olczyk's decision to leave. God bless! Scott Powers is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Blackhawks. On behalf of the Writz family, thank you for what you do for us every day. My mom would take my dad's car to go home to go south. He wanted theopportunity to join the winners circle with Diana O. one day. Eddie preserved the puck from the game he played that day and wrote Diana O. on it. Broadcasters can rarely connect with a vast audience, and he was able to do that because of how relatable he is. Seated a row behind him is his youngest son, Nick Olczyk, who is preparing for the nights TV broadcast. He didnt elaborate on theirlove. Olczyk wont return to the Hawks next season, another domino that has fallen in a lengthy row as the franchise stretches its teardown all the way to the beloved broadcast booth. I will also miss him always saying, Keep an eye on the goaltender if the Hawks or the opposing team were down by a goal with a couple of minutes left. Coach Red was one of the kindest and most knowledgeable human beings I was lucky enough to play for, and learn from in the game and in life. Eddie Olczyk is a famous American ice hockey player. Is Najee Harris Related to Pittsburgh Steelers Legend, Franco Harris? His amateur career started from the early age but his professional career started only from 1984 when he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks. When Eddie Olczyk left the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth, there were reports that he would eventually land on his feet in Seattle. I worked with the kids and stuff. Every time he was traded or signed to a new team, the family had to pick up and move to a new home. The Olczyk family name was found in the USA in 1920. 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 . The couple has four children namely Nick, Tom, Rick, and a daughter called Zandra. He did over 200 games in Indy and got an unbelievable opportunity when my former linemate, Troy, got sick. Olczyk already had a ton of reasons to consider joining the Kraken. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. Ed Olczyk is a member of NBC's Horse Racing coverage. I know how close their family is and I know how close we are as a family. That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' That is what Im going to miss. He is a class act. 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. On May 5, 2014, EA Sports announced that "Eddie O" will provide color commentary for NHL 15 alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick and "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Ray Ferraro. Olczyk has known Brown since Brown was a teenager, and theyve quickly developed an on-air rapport with Olczyk in the booth and Brown at ice level. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. next general manager on Blackhawks Banter,, Blackhawks 4 Best Options to Replace Eddie Olczyk as TV Analyst, reported he left the organization as well, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker Live Updates, NHL Trade Bait List for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, NHL Rumors: Bruins, Coyotes, Senators, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Blackhawks Bytes Deadline Edition: Johnson, Lafferty, Kane, Domi, Grading the Wilds Trade for John Klingberg, Flames Acquire Stecher & Ritchie in Uneventful Deadline, NHL Trade Deadline Minor Moves: Hunt, Asplund, Brown & More, Deadline Moves Oilers Didnt Make Will Lead to Offseason Swings, Sabres Acquire Greenway from the Wild for Picks, Bruins Get Gritty Boost with Hathaway Trade Deadline Addition, Flames Acquire Nick Ritchie & Troy Stecher From Coyotes, 4 Fun Facts About Edmonton Oilers Newest Player Nick Bjugstad, Blue Jackets Use Trade Deadline to Setup Big Offseason, Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Schenn, McCabe, Woll& More, Wild Acquire Sundqvist from Red Wings For a Draft Pick. Beginning with the 200607 NHL season, Olczyk was the color commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks television broadcasts, partnering play-by-play announcer Pat Foley. Eddie Olczyk. Unlike Eddie, who was a forward, Ricky's path was as a defenseman. Throughout his life he transitioned his focus to many different career paths but after he was diagnosed with cancer his priorities shifted. In the book, Olczyk talks about how he was bullied as a child; his ascension to the NHL as an 18-year-old rookie; the night he was traded from Toronto to Winnipeg as his wife was about to give. Olczyk took the high road by owning the decision to leave, but he didnt arrive at it alone. On December 30, 2010, it was announced that Foley and Olczyk signed a three-year extension to stay with the Blackhawks. See Also: Paul Mooney Gay, Net Worth, Wife, Health, Family. 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. Despite ample legal trouble, Sizemore had steady film and television credits. Hes focused on the present. And as Olczyk put it, the fans might not enjoy the outcome but he hopes you enjoyed the broadcast. Eddie Olczyk was ready to give up. His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. . 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]. My plan, full honesty, was then to make the jump to the American League for five years and then have 10 years in the minors and then maybe get a chance in the NHL. I played football, and I was eliminated as the pyramid got higher and narrower. And then he started a 16-year long broadcasting journey with them in 2006. Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast. He has more than earned the right to command whatever he wants as far as contracts go. Perfect hires, Blackhawks forever, and so I think its a win-win for them doing the games, Olczyk said. That he was a former draft pick made it that much more special to witness. And he isnt just reuniting with his brother. As regards, Eddie's childhood he was raised . He used to drive from Chicago to Indianapolis to make 50 bucks a game, Olczyk said. He joined the Hurricanes as assistant general manager in June 2014. His brother, Ricky, was in the front office. It wasnt until August that Olczyk was technically hired by the Kraken because TNT, for which Olczyk calls games nationally, also had to sign off on his new contract. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olczyk surname lived. He has learned to sleep on planes over the years, so that helps. In a seismic event in the Chicago sports market, the Blackhawks and TV analyst Eddie Olczyk are parting ways. Last season, he got a chance to call his first NHL games for the Blackhawks and did many more than expected when Murray missed games while battling cancer. From a broadcast standpoint, nothing has been different for Olczyk working for the Kraken. But lets face it, the Blackhawks are trying to start anew. According to Diana, Tommy gave as much as attention to books as pucks from middle school, throughout high school and carried a 4.0 GPA to Penn State. Theres plenty of work ahead perfecting this seasons setup for a second-year Kraken fan base quite different from the Original Six market he left behind. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. She did radio analysis, and she called a few games on TV. For someone whos done so much not just for the Blackhawks but the Chicago community, it seems like the organization totally misread the room. 204 ratings24 reviews. And the rumor mill started swirling. Against all odds, he played on Im frustrated that the Blackhawks could not get a deal done, and Im sad because of what the team will miss. He underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. We appreciate his many contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. We all simply have to get used to a different voice. Eddie Olczyk Apr 11 2021 Eddie Olczyk had built a life and career most people could only dream of. Foley is in a production truck outside the United Center, and Olczyk is at NBC Sports Networks studios in Stamford, Conn. The credibility that Olczyk brought to his role was second to none. Eddie Olczyk, Perry Lefko. He played the last two seasons of his career in Chicago. He's a phenomenal teacher of the greatest game in the world and will now be showing everyone how he will overcome this obstacle. The success the Olczyk family has had in the sport can largely be credited to the sacrifices Diana and her husband, Ed, made early in Eddie's career. [12], On August 8, 2017, Olczyk issued a statement through the Blackhawks to announce that he had been diagnosed with a form of colon cancer. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. Olczyk is the latest big name to leave the organization, which has been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. Im frustrated and sad about this news. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. Their sons, Nick, Tommy and Eddie III followed their fathers footsteps. 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? You need that entering a rebuild, and theyre missing out. All rights reserved, Eddie Olczyk on Unfiltered: 'This was my decision', They couldn't come to terms on a new contract, Indiana State Trooper Struck and Killed by Suspect During Police Chase, Chicago FOP Lodge Reelects John Catanzara as President, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61. Instead, Olczyk will join the Kraken while remaining as an analyst for TNT. Follow. He didnt elaborate on theirlove story, but obviously, it worked out well for this longtime married couple. It's been pretty amazing that the boys and my brother are still in the game.". We're able to talk about anything and everything. I'm proud as heck. Yet the Hawks paved the way for both of their exits, skewing younger and more social-media-savvy. Since the 201819 NHL season, "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Brian Boucher joins Emrick, Olczyk, and McGuire for big games. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . [11], Rick Olczyk, Eddie's younger brother, is a former hockey player for Brown University and became an assistant general manager for the Kraken in 2019. 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. Wed never played together, never worked on a team together because of the age and stuff. He was teammates with Eddie and now works with Ricky, and Francis wasn't surprised the brothers each reached the NHL. My heart breaks for his family, former colleagues and every player who was lucky enough to call him their coach. Theres a hockey history here, but you always have to assume theres somebody new watching, Olczyk said. Ricky had a few small professional hockey opportunities out of college, but decided against them. Im envious of his new colleagues in Seattle and all the people he will influence and mentor there, just like he did in Chicago. I had one goal. But it was not meant to be. CHICAGO Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. His tiring flight schedule throughout his career had an upside. What weve gone through transitionally, moving, new schools, finding doctors, friends, thats crazy. Am I working with Kenny (Albert), or Johnny (Forslund) or Jonesy (Keith Jones) or J.T.? Related: Blackhawks 4 Best Options to Replace Eddie Olczyk as TV Analyst. And so, it was fully wanting to ask their permission, and we just took our time.. If one thing's certain, however, it's that "Eddie-O" will forever be a Chicago legend. What weve gone through transitionally, moving, new schools, finding doctors, friends, thats crazy. About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. Besides Nick, Olczyk's brother Ricky is an assistant general manager for the Kraken and son Eddie Jr. is an amateur scout. My family and I appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on my treatments.". Eddie Olczyk. The root cause of. "We're very, very blessed. He's been the lead hockey analyst for NBC Sports since 2007, working regularly with play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick. [8], Olczyk and his wife, Diana, have three sons, all former hockey players, and one daughter. "I've always tied it somehow. Neither would eleven, five, or even six. The Chicago Blackhawks released a statement regarding Eddie Olczyk's decision to leave the team as their color broadcaster and join the Seattle Kraken. Eddie's sons are continuing the hockey tradition in the Olczyk family. I do have to look over. At the same time , Its strange, Nick Olczyk says later. But as a woman, Im probably a bit partial. But giving a woman this kind of rein would certainly be a good look for an organization that has been through the mud politically these past few seasons.Or it could backfire. This was about 67% of all the recorded Olczyk's in USA. He eventually. Before he watched the late telecast of the race on TV, his wife called to tell him some grave news about her namesake thoroughbred. Meet the Rumored New Head Coach of the Utah Jazz. There was a contract offer on the table. "We didn't know how expensive traveling was," Diana said. as well as a few other broadcasts, he accumulated many frequent flier miles! Join host Nick Olczyk for exclusive interviews, analysis, and dispatches from the road. And so, when extension talks with the Blackhawks snagged this summer, Olczyk didnt hesitate when his brothers team made their pitch. Olczyk, who has been one of the voices of the Blackhawks since 2006, will assume the analyst role with the Seattle Kraken joining the team his brother Ricky works for as an assistant general . Eddie Olczyk's cancer battle was an extended family affair. He was named a captain at Brown University during his senior season. Thats as far as Im gonna go on that. Its impossible to replace legendary broadcasters like Olczyk, so its hard for anyone to live up to those expectations. Twenty is a nice round number. On July 18, it was announced that beloved Chicago Blackhawks broadcaster Eddie Olczyk would leave the organization after serving 16 years as a color commentator for the team, and will join the Seattle Krakens broadcast. That became more complicated when the family moved from Niles, a northwest Chicago suburb, to Palos Heights, a southwest suburb, and Eddie still had practices in the northwest suburbs. Given our age discrepancy its four years older for the record he and I were never able to play against each other or on the same team in any sport. My husband worked a lot of hours. Everything else is a bit of an adjustment. And it all came to an end. But Danny and Jaime had come out this year, and we spent time with them. CHICAGO (AP) Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts and is expected to work Seattle Kraken games next season. CHICAGO -- Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts.. He's expected to work Seattle Kraken games next season, joining the . And with their family, was always Diana. Tommy is a nationally ranked senior forward for Penn State. Olczyk said details for the planned three-man setup remain in flux. If they put something to mind, there's a good chance they'll succeed at it.". Learn how and when to remove this template message, Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Men's Ice Hockey, National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, List of NHL players with 1,000 games played, "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA", "New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils Box Score May 25, 1994", "Wayne Gretzky, Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk Join Turner Sports' NHL Coverage Team", "Source: Olczyk moving on from Hawks as color analyst", "Alison Lukan & Nick Olczyk to join Kraken broadcast team this season", "Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk bolts for Seattle Kraken after Hawks talks break down", "Seattle NHL expansion team hires Ricky Olczyk as assistant GM", "Amazing news: Eddie Olczyk is cancer-free", "Eddie Olczyk talks new book 'Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life', Ed Olczyk's profile at hockeydraftcentral.com, Chicago Black Hawks first round draft pick, History of the NHL on United States television, NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition, United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing on television, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eddie_Olczyk&oldid=1142330530, Ice hockey players at the 1984 Winter Olympics, National Hockey League first-round draft picks, Olympic ice hockey players of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from May 2021, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox ice hockey biography with unknown parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 20:28. 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. We both do it with [other brother] Randy as well.". Given their current outlook, he may have realized there was no better time than the present. The facts are simple. "At the end of the day it is always about money and terms. 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. Itll be great to be back home and Im sure it will be emotional for me on the inside, for sure. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. On July 18, it was announced that beloved Chicago Blackhawks ' broadcaster Eddie Olczyk would leave the organization after serving 16 years as a color . That something new is the Seattle Kraken. In negotiations, sometimes you cant come to terms, and thats what happened here., The Hawks released a statement: For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to have legendary broadcaster Eddie Olczyk bring Chicago Blackhawks hockey into the homes of our fans.