The trio have provided commentary for every EA Sports NHL game until NHL 19, when Ferraro became the new color commentator. According to multiple media reports, Eddie Olczyk is leaving his role as the color analyst for NBC Sports Chicago's broadcasts of Blackhawks games. 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. 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. What weve gone through transitionally, moving, new schools, finding doctors, friends, thats crazy. "It was a decision that I wrestled with for a while," Olczyk said on Unfiltered while talking to Pat Boyle. She was in the studio for pre-game, post-game, and intermission analysis. In 2003, he moved from the booth to the bench and served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 11, 2003, until December 15, 2005. Sure, youre getting older, and the glory days might be more behind you than in front of you. 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. Foley is in a production truck outside the United Center, and Olczyk is at NBC Sports Networks studios in Stamford, Conn. He's a phenomenal teacher of the greatest game in the world and will now be showing everyone how he will overcome this obstacle. But the Kraken really liked what they saw and felt he could be their Swiss Army knife, so to speak.. Heres what you need to know about Eddie Olczyks wife, Diana Olczyk. Olczyk is the latest big name to leave the organization, which has been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. 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 16 seasons, we were fortunate to. He was also inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. The Chicago Blackhawks released a statement regarding Eddie Olczyk's decision to leave the team as their color broadcaster and join the Seattle Kraken. With that said, the fact that Eddie has found his way to being part of the overall teardown just seems all too fitting at this point. Thank you Eddie for all you have done for the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago, and best of luck on your newest adventure! His deal expired after last season. And it all came to an end. Reviews. 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. Share. Meet the Rumored New Head Coach of the Utah Jazz. Eddie Olczyk on Unfiltered: 'This was my decision' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. The audio of Olczyk saying "This has been tremendously tremendous" was an instant hit among hockey enthusiasts and was the subject of many spoofs online. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. He took a break from his broadcast activities and is currently receiving treatment. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family." Olczyk, a Chicago native who was drafted by the Blackhawks third overall in 1984, has been . Clearly, the Blackhawks are taking the concept of a rebuild to a whole new level. He was selected by the Blackhawks with the third pick in the 1984 NHL Draft, and played five seasons for them (1984-87, 1998-2000). Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Olczyk surname lived. My family and I appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on my treatments.". A few years ago, I got his book Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life, which is a fascinating read. His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. Would she thrive in a bigger role? . "The mom and dad are extremely honest, hardworking, genuine people. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. Seated a row behind him is his youngest son, Nick Olczyk, who is preparing for the nights TV broadcast. He finished his career in Chicago. The nurse keeps popping in and out not to check on Diana, but to tell Olczyk that the Maple Leafs. He was selected to repeat his duties alongside Emrick for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.[6]. I had one goal. Of course, not knowing the details of the negotiation, its hard to gauge what that offer may or may not have looked like. Olczyk was recently named the NHL Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador for the 2019-20 season and his new book " Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life " tells the story of his fight . During the games first intermission, he announced he was cancer-free, and his openness during and after his battle never failed to amaze me. My husband worked a lot of hours. 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. 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. 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. The NFL pro-turned-sports-analysts life revolves around hockey and Eddie Olczyks wife is also a fan of the sport. And its OK to get that in there. But he drew one, too and it leads to Seattle. Brown on the local TV Seattle broadcast in the evening. We appreciate his many . He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. Eddie Olczyk had built a life and career most people could only dream of. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Eddie Olczyk. He earned a law degree at Cornell, worked for the NHL Players' Association for two years, and spent time in Phoenix and Chicago at consulting and law firms. Eddie Olczyk was born on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. We're able to talk about anything and everything. 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. 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. 1 min read. And Im happy for the organization, obviously, on a professional level, but on a personal level, Im just ecstatic and over the moon.. Now, I completely respect Olczyks decision to step aside, especially if the two sides were not willing to come to an agreement. And it all began with that little yellow pamphlet. [8], Olczyk and his wife, Diana, have three sons, all former hockey players, and one daughter. 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. Everybodys saying, get ready, get ready, the rains coming, the rains coming. Im like, I dont know, maybe. Look, I never thought Id leave home. "I kid them every so often, 'You guys never had a real job.' 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. He even stated, I will die a Blackhawk. Because of that, he could relay what most were thinking, whether good or bad. 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. That is what Im going to miss. It was on a flight with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him in 1984 NHL draft, that he met Diana. "I think both sides certainly expected to get a contract done.". But despite Rocky Wirtzs feelings for him, the Hawks drew a line with Olczyk. , but obviously, it worked out well for this longtime married couple. Eddie Olczyk has a high-flying career literally. Geoff Baker covers hockey and is a sports enterprise and investigative reporter for The Seattle Times. . Eddie Olczyk revealed that he has cancer but wont let it defeat him thanks to the support of his wife and family. On behalf of the Writz family, thank you for what you do for us every day. Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for . Eddie Olczyk, Former NHL player, coach, and commentator It was not until August 4, 2017, that his life changed forever. I'm proud as heck. CHICAGO -- Diana Olczyk can still remember the color of the pamphlet her oldest son, Eddie Olczyk, handed her more than 40 years ago, the one that started it all. Ricky also happens to be a Kraken assistant general manager. That rumor has become a reality. 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. Olczyk stated, Negotiations are hard. No matter where they lived, the boys didnt let go of their hockey dreams. But, now he's moving on. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. He has one sibling Rick Olczyk, who is additionally engaged with hockey calling. And then he started a 16-year long broadcasting journey with them in 2006. 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. as well as a few other broadcasts, he accumulated many frequent flier miles! Will M's decision to stick with J.P. Crawford at shortstop pay off. Theres a hockey history here, but you always have to assume theres somebody new watching, Olczyk said. Ill leave it at that. The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. He never anticipated last season would be his last with the organization. Olczyk took the high road by owning the decision to leave, but he didnt arrive at it alone. His deal expired after last season. I really have a lot of respect for what theyre doing and how theyre going about it. The Hawks and Olczyk had been talking for weeks about a potential contract, but the team essentially let him test free agency. With that, our Blackhawks team wanted to get together to reflect on this monumental change. He also uses those flights to catch up on whats going on around the league or in horse racing, which he still broadcasts for NBC. Well. But, he hopes you enjoyed his time in Chicago. Hed 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 center Olczyk spent years as a Blackhawks player and 15 more as a broadcaster working their games. Despite ample legal trouble, Sizemore had steady film and television credits. I went from building a case for why he should have been considered Chicagos next general manager on Blackhawks Banter, to being less than surprised to see him depart their broadcasting booth. Hes a Chicago native who grew up a Hawks fan and was the teams first-round draft pick in 1984. Olczyk was pleased the Blackhawks replaced him with Murray and Patrick Sharp, two people he has known and respected for many years. Ed Olczyk Position: C Shoots: Left 6-1 , 207lb (185cm, 93kg) Born: August 16 , 1966 (Age: 56-199d) in Chicago, Illinois us Draft: Chicago, 1st round (3rd overall), 1984 NHL Entry As Coach: 2 Yrs, 316418, 80 Pts. Eddie Olczyk and Diana Olczyks family live and breathe hockey. Book a personalized video $49. Nick Olczyk, Eddies son who appeared on TV and radio for the Hawks last season, also will not return, according to a source. But although that scare made him want to fight for the things he already appreciated, the death last summer of Olczyks mother, Diana, reminded him there was still more hed like to do. Eddie Olczyk. Every time he was traded or signed to a new team, the family had to pick up and move to a new home. My favorite Edzo moment came back in March 2018, when the Blackhawks were playing the Vancouver Canucks. At least the way Eddie Olczyk sees it. I worked with the kids and stuff. Every time his dad would get traded or signed somewhere new, there was the rest of the Olczyk clan. Wed never played together, never worked on a team together because of the age and stuff. Ricky had a few small professional hockey opportunities out of college, but decided against them. This [I] know.". Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. And he isnt just reuniting with his brother. 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. He called the Blackhawks' games through a historic run of championship hockey. 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. Olczyk also has an interest in Thoroughbred horse racing, appearing in advertisements for Xpressbet and serving as a guest commentator and handicapper for major horse racing events such as the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes on NBC networks, and on WGN Sports coverage of the Arlington Million that is fed nationally. His brother, Rick Olczyk, is the assistant general manager of the Kraken, and his son Eddie, Jr., is an amateur scout for the team. No one will know the real reasons the contract went into the paper shredder. Ed Olczyk is also an inductee of USA-HOF from 2012. Thats an exciting opportunity for him, but it hurts and he will be missed. Olczyk won't return as a color commentator for Hawks games on NBC Sports Chicago,. Pat Foley (born 1954) is an American retired play-by-play commentator for ice hockey . As though the Blackhawks were giving onlookers much to be optimistic about in the first place, their ability to find the right fit in this regard that quickly seems farfetched at best. 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 continues through another door that leads him outside, then through another door back inside. Send the video to friends and family and don't forget to capture their priceless reactions. 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Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. "How ironic," Olczyk said . The Family Man. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. Olczyk explained he tried to keep a "low profile" during the day. As time passed and Olczyk hadnt signed a new contract with the Blackhawks, there was the growing possibility he could become a free agent. I think that's a perfect slogan if you can quote our family.". He's going to go pound for pound with this disease and be standing with his hands in the air at the end as he did 361 times in his career. 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. [citation needed], Olczyk was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks as the third overall pick in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. She made quite a name for herself as a player wife and mother. Its just not the same, but that doesnt mean its bad. Their relationship has changed as adults. Ricky has been the [family] captain and caretaker of my dad. He'll be back on his feet, in the booth, and at the track in no time. Along with being a longtime color commentator for the NHL . Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk bolts for Seattle Kraken after Hawks talks break down, Eddie Olczyk owns decision to leave Blackhawks, but he didnt arrive at it alone, Cubs Justin Steele back on track after efficient first spring-training start, Cubs spring-training camp thins as WBC participants leave for tournament, Bulls get a painful lesson in what a real playoff team should look like, Sectional final roundup: Simeon, St. Ignatius win in 3A; Oswego East takes down Joliet West in 4A, Blown leads continue plaguing Bulls as Billy Donovan searches for a fix, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson concludes frenetic trade deadline week with reflective Friday, Dear Abby: When my husbands brother marries, I should be in the wedding, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife to invest $250 million in new Chicago research lab, Jose Abreu on life with the Astros and leaving the White Sox, who werent a family in 2022, Chicago police officer was shot and killed in front of kids playing at school: They ran as quickly as possible just to get to safety, Dear Abby: With boyfriends fussy father living here, I feel trapped, Tom Sizemore dies at 61; actor known for Saving Private Ryan, Natural Born Killers. You think of Kane and Toews on the ice and Pat and Eddie in the booth. "[14], In October 2019, Olczyk released his autobiography, Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life, in which he shares details of his fight with stage 3 colon cancer.[15]. Olczyk then turned the mic over to Rocky Wirtz, who thanked everyone for attending before heaping praise on Olczyk. 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 . His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' However, I feel like that may not be a realistic possibility, considering the teams apparent youth movement. When Eddie Olczyk left the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth, there were reports that he would eventually land on his feet in Seattle. That's what we did.". Olczyk was born and raised in Chicago. "I think we've gotten closer," Ricky said. As a fan, he made watching and listening to that much more of a treat as a result. 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 had worked many national games with Forslund over the years, so there was immediate comfort there. 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. In the past two years, he also has covered Triple Crown and other major horse racing events for NBC. Nevertheless, he will always be a Blackhawk and will forever be part of the Chicago family. Its the first time hes been on the same team as his older brother, Eddie. It wasnt a secret he was due a new deal in the summer. 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. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential . She spoke from the United Center. Daughter Zandra, 20, is attending University of Alabama. "It's neat," Ricky said. SEATTLE Eddie Olczyk pulls out his keycard and swipes it to enter one door. Meet the Inspiring NFL On-Air Personality, Who Is Will Hardy? 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. CHICAGO (AP) Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. Their parents have enjoyed watching the relationship evolve and witnessing how each son arrived at his goal of the NHL in his own way. Ed Olczyk is a member of NBC's Horse Racing coverage. [2] He is an alumnus of Loyola Academy and Michigan State University, with a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications from the latter. But before the horse made it to the finish line, she suffered an injury. Honestly, you could probably put Olczyk in any hockey TV booth around the league and hed be more than fine. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. The 18 game streak would remain a Toronto franchise record (tied with Darryl Sittler until being surpassed in December 2022 by Mitch Marner. As regards, Eddie's childhood he was raised . He is currently assistant general manager for the Carolina Hurricanes. And the rumor mill started swirling. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . A post shared by Chicago Blackhawks (@nhlblackhawks). Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. Exactly one year after his diagnosis, there was one goal remaining: Olczyk was to watch son Eddie Jr. get married Saturday. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League.