But he drew one, too and it leads to Seattle. He and Pat Foley, who is also now gone. 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. She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. Hockey is a tie that binds for Eddie Olczyk and his family 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. From making the U.S. Olympic Team in 1984 to winning his battle with cancer over three decades later, its incredible how much hes accomplished over his life. Eddie skated, and a hockey family was born. 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. He's expected to work . In March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially "cancer-free". For as good as Olczyk is a broadcaster, I will even more so miss his personality and what he brought to the broadcasts as a human being. The team will be hard enough to watch. Thats a fact. 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His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. God bless! He wouldn't rule out the possibility of maybe the Inside The NBA guys playing a part in some broadcasts. Nick once elaborated how hockey crazy the family is, We have a plaque, actually, in our house right when you walk in the foyer that says, We interrupt this family for hockey. I think thats a perfect slogan if you can quote our family.. If thats the case, do you blame him? 1 min read. Book a personalized video $49. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. Eddie Olczyk was born on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Their relationship has changed as adults. As a youth, Olczyk played in the 1978 and 1979 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Chicago. Olczyk is the latest big name to leave the organization, which has been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. SEATTLE Eddie Olczyk pulls out his keycard and swipes it to enter one door. As the MC of the Blackhawks town-hall event Feb. 2, Hawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk introduced the panel of team executives chairman Rocky Wirtz, CEO Danny Wirtz and president of business operations Jaime Faulkner. 4.05. 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. Olczyk was pleased the Blackhawks replaced him with Murray and Patrick Sharp, two people he has known and respected for many years. Every time he was traded or signed to a new team, the family had to pick up and move to a new home. The family shared Eddie's hockey journey, turning out-of-state hockey tournaments into vacations. Eddie Olczyk's Son Nick Tags in for Dad on Blackhawks TV Broadcast "I wasn't able to go to the engagement party (on Aug. 6, 2017). I do have to look over. 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. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. As regards, Eddie's childhood he was raised . Players, coaches, execs vote for NHL's top centers, Road to the men's Frozen Four: Conference tournaments at a glance, Theodore scores in SO, Golden Knights beat Devils 4-3, Lineup picks, matchups, start or sit advice for Friday. Eddie's sons are continuing the hockey tradition in the Olczyk family. Honestly, you could probably put Olczyk in any hockey TV booth around the league and hed be more than fine. In February 2016, it was announced that Olczyk would be the recipient of the Ring Lardner Award, which was founded in 2002 by the Chicago Athletic Association and honors broadcasters and writers who "exemplify the wit and warmth of Ring Lardner's writing." His amateur career started from the early age but his professional career started only from 1984 when he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks. Blackhawks' Eddie Olczyk set to join Kraken's broadcast booth - USA TODAY Not solely because of the Olczyk news, but more so because of all that led up to it. In a seismic event in the Chicago sports market, the Blackhawks and TV analyst Eddie Olczyk are parting ways. Clearly, the Blackhawks are taking the concept of a rebuild to a whole new level. Longtime analyst Eddie Olczyk will not return to the team. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Still, he continued to negotiate with the Blackhawks and only decided later to turn down their offer and agree to a deal with the Kraken. The Blackhawks are undergoing a true rebuild, and Olczyk would have been a credible voice for the fans. Hall of Fame play-by-play voice Pat Foley was forced out after last season, the team traded star winger Alex DeBrincat on draft day and now Olczyk is departing. But as a woman, Im probably a bit partial. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? He worked on the coaching staff of Niagara Universitys hockey team and is currently a coach at Bemidji State University, UMass. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. Olczyk still doesnt want to get too into why he passed on the Blackhawks contract offer and ultimately left the team. Im not very confident. The Hawks offered him one, but Olczyk decided it was time for him to leave. Eddie Olczyk leaving Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth, expected to View all (84) Evan. Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) August 11, 2022 Playing Career Back on June 9, 1984 the Chicago Blackhawks selected 20 year old Chicago native Eddie Olczyk third overall. 204 ratings24 reviews. But Tommy, an accounting major with a 3.7 GPA, is the brains ofthe family and they agree he gets it from their mom. And then he started a 16-year long broadcasting journey with them in 2006. Olczyk won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994 and recorded 342 goals and 452 assists for 794 points in 1,031 regular-season games. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. I want to thank Eddie for his unsuffered commitment to this organization, even in the face of personal challenges, Wirtz said. And the rumor mill started swirling. Meet the Rumored New Head Coach of the Utah Jazz. 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. From a broadcast standpoint, nothing has been different for Olczyk working for the Kraken. Just the way everything worked out and everybody kind of being in the places and the opportunity that was there, I needed to take a step back and figure out if that was (what I wanted).. He will be deeply missed. Having the NHL means more opportunities for TNT to use its partnerships with the NBA and All Elite Wrestling for cross-promotion. Olczyk, cancer-free since March, has much to celebrate Hell join the ROOT Sports booth alongside incumbent Kraken play-by-play voice John Forslund a former NBC Sports teammate on national broadcasts and analyst JT Brown. Theres great disappointment, but this was my decision. He was born on August 16, 1966 and his birthplace is Chicago, United States. 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. In 1987, Olczyk was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Al Secord for Rick Vaive, Steve Thomas, and Bob McGill.[3]. However, it took him a long time to return to loving horse racing again. Eddie Olczyk's son Nick, who has been one of the radio color analyst fill-ins for Troy Murray this season, made his television debut that night and anybody watching and listening could notice the . My point is that Olczyk is a man of heart and a man who cares about the game of hockey and anybody else who happens to care about hockey. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. On behalf of the Writz family, thank you for what you do for us every day. This is my decision. After that, he became one of the best color commentators in the sport. His tiring flight schedule throughout his career had an upside. According to a source, the Hawks would not give him the same contract length that the Kraken did. Am I working with Kenny (Albert), or Johnny (Forslund) or Jonesy (Keith Jones) or J.T.? I had an incredible conversation with [chairman Rocky Wirtz], met with him in person, as well as Danny [Wirtz] and Jaime [Faulkner]. The weather has even surprised him. So, its going to be fun.. Their sons, Nick, Tommy and Eddie III followed their fathers footsteps. Someone is seated inside the otherwise-empty restaurant, and Olczyk explains hes going into the other room to be interviewed. In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. It was on a flight with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him in 1984 NHL draft, that he met Diana. He also doesnt have to wait long to return to Chicago and the United Center. Former New York Ranger Eddie Olczyk talks hockey and cancer Jim Bay Former New York Ranger and NBC hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk. Ed Olczyk Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey Next Up In And so to be able to work with him, its extremely satisfying, gratifying. He called the Blackhawks' games through a historic run of championship hockey. The nurse keeps popping in and out not to check on Diana, but to tell Olczyk that the Maple Leafs. Eddie Olczyk: Son, illness, Where is tonight, Is sick, Health - Sportsbugz Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. (/oltk/; born August 16, 1966) is an American former center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Kraken TV job also a chance to be closer to family for Eddie Olczyk I'm proud as heck. 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. Blackhawks Roundtable: Eddie Olczyk's Departure - The Hockey Writers The couple is blessed with four children namely Nick Olczyk, Zandra Olczyk, Tom Olczyk, and Eddie Olczyk.. All of his sons are involved in hockey as Nick and Tom are currently playing professional hockey and Eddie is a former player who currently is an assistant coach for Niagara . 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. 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. 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. Olczyk was also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 2003 to December 2005. And Im happy for the organization, obviously, on a professional level, but on a personal level, Im just ecstatic and over the moon.. 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. And it all began with that little yellow pamphlet. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. 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. He was traded again in 1990 to the Winnipeg Jets, with Mark Osborne for Dave Ellett and Paul Fenton. Olczyk said details for the planned three-man setup remain in flux. From 1984 through 1987, Olczyk was a member of Chicago's infamous "Clydesdale Line" with Troy Murray and Curt Fraser, the nickname coined by Chicago's broadcaster Pat Foley, as each player weighed in at or around 200 pounds. We're truly grateful and appreciative of it. To us, family is everything.". 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]. 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. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Its just not the same, but that doesnt mean its bad. But, now he's moving on. I feel bad, but its hard not to do that.. Im not confident that theyll find their permanent fit by next season. Whos to say the Blackhawks cant find another as they were lucky enough to find two? Can you guys wear a name tag for me? The decision left Hawks' fans confused. He spent 16 years in the National Hockey League, playing for six teams, including the Penguins. Olczyk was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team and was a No. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. (from Eddie Olczyk leaving Blackhawks, will join Krakens broadcast team, The AthleticNHL, 07/18/2022) Sharp indicated in the past he wasnt sure if he would want to deal with live color broadcasting. 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. Yes, I do. Tommy is a nationally ranked senior forward for Penn State. Eddie Olczyk on Twitter But the Kraken really liked what they saw and felt he could be their Swiss Army knife, so to speak.. There was a contract on the table, but I have decided to step away. Hell join the Krakens broadcast booth and continue as an analyst for TNT. Eddie Olczyk was ready to give up. He played 16 seasons in the NHL, coached in the NHL and is now one of the game's most recognizable television commentators. 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. Currently, Rick is an assistant general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. Nick offered to do color commentary for the Indy Fuel of the ECHL and would drive from Chicago to Indianapolis to call games beginning in the 2019-20 season. [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. Jim O'Donnell: Olczyk sends unmistakable message to the Blackhawks with Despite adding marquee free-agents, the Penguins started the season with a disappointing 8176 record, leading to Olczyk's dismissal on December 15.[5]. And its OK to get that in there. And it all came to an end. The credibility that Olczyk brought to his role was second to none. Enter Search Term. "I think both sides certainly expected to get a contract done.".