Theres negotiations, and we agreed to disagree, and everybody has moved on, he said. Geoff Baker covers hockey and is a sports enterprise and investigative reporter for The Seattle Times. Hes taken in some of the scenery and gotten to know the area. 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. 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. Ed Olczyk is also an inductee of USA-HOF from 2012. In 1987, Olczyk was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Al Secord for Rick Vaive, Steve Thomas, and Bob McGill.[3]. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Brad Johansen Leaving NBC4 Columbus: Where Is the Anchor Going? Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for nationally ranked Penn State. 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. Since the 201819 NHL season, "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Brian Boucher joins Emrick, Olczyk, and McGuire for big games. He served as a television color commentator for NHL on NBC until its end in 2021 and currently commentates on TNT and Seattle Kraken games on Root Sports Northwest. [1] Career [ edit] Just the timing is what it is, and you have to make those decisions. 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He took a break from his broadcast activities and is currently receiving treatment. It is Nov. 10, 1990 and Eddie Olczyk's wife is well into labour at a Scarborough hospital. Seated a row behind him is his youngest son, Nick Olczyk, who is preparing for the nights TV broadcast. So to be around him more, I know my mom is smiling, which makes us all feel pretty good.. After signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings in 1996, he would not finish the season with them before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Glen Murray. But I dont see that happening for a long time. Eddie also leads hockey analyst for NHL on NBC and, The Chicago Blackhawks. As a fan, he made watching and listening to that much more of a treat as a result. He's expected to work . Neither would eleven, five, or even six. 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. 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. Their parents have enjoyed watching the relationship evolve and witnessing how each son arrived at his goal of the NHL in his own way. He was also inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Thats an exciting opportunity for him, but it hurts and he will be missed. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . With the Blackhawks heading into unchartered territory, with pain ahead for every inch of the franchise, it almost seems fitting that Olczyk has found a way to escape it all in advance. I never thought, to be completely honest, Id get 35 games last year, let alone one. At the end of the day it is always about money and terms. Lets face it; he was the voice of the Blackhawks for the last 16 years. "I knew what I wanted to do when I was 12 years old. Honestly, more disappointed than surprised. One may not agree nor understand. I was looking forward to hearing Olczyk next season, as the club is not expected to be good, and he is always entertaining to listen to. And it all began with that little yellow pamphlet. 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. My mom would take my dad's car to go home to go south. As much as he never expected to leave the Blackhawks, the Kraken presented a perfect option. We'd go north for hockey. Olczyk, who has been on Hawks broadcasts since 2006, couldnt reach an agreement with management on a new contract. 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. 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. Contents: Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk Jr. is an American former professional hockey player and head coach from the United States. That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' My favorite Edzo moment came back in March 2018, when the Blackhawks were playing the Vancouver Canucks. One of the best in the business. We're truly grateful and appreciative of it. Zandra is a student at the University of Alabama. Eddie Olczyk has been the Blackhawks TV analyst since 2006. 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. 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. Itll be great to be back home and Im sure it will be emotional for me on the inside, for sure. He is currently assistant general manager for the Carolina Hurricanes. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on February 22, 2013. Despite adding marquee free-agents, the Penguins started the season with a disappointing 8176 record, leading to Olczyk's dismissal on December 15.[5]. 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.. 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. We don't take it for granted. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. Someone is seated inside the otherwise-empty restaurant, and Olczyk explains hes going into the other room to be interviewed. Michigan had the highest population of Olczyk families in 1920. Im sure there will be a day where its pouring rain, and Ill call you, like, hey, its raining here, just so you know, and it hasnt stopped.. "I remember times when my mom would drive me in the car with my gear," Eddie said. 4.05. Eddie's sons are continuing the hockey tradition in the Olczyk family. 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. So, its going to be fun.. Its the first time hes been on the same team as his older brother, Eddie. "I guess I'm not, knowing the family and their background," Francis said. And as Olczyk put it, the fans might not enjoy the outcome but he hopes you enjoyed the broadcast. I mean thats just the reality of the world we live in. Those who are a fan of image upscaling and Fallout 4 will be pleased to "I have been working with outstanding health care professionals and expect to be back in the broadcast booth after I complete my treatment," Olczyk said in a statement issued by the Blackhawks on Tuesday. He eventually arrives at a restaurant. "We're very, very blessed. There was a contract on the table, but I have decided to step away. I really have a lot of respect for what theyre doing and how theyre going about it. Longtime analyst Eddie Olczyk will not return to the team. Against all odds, he played on Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast. 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. Olczyk's brother Ricky is a Kraken assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. Im like, I dont know what the hell youre talking about. Share. They were hoping Eddie would be a bridge to that newness. In March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially "cancer-free". Follow Scott on Twitter @byscottpowers, Nick Olczyk, John Forslund and Eddie Olczyk are part of the Krakens broadcast team this season. Eddie Olczyk is a big man. 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 . And he isnt just reuniting with his brother. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. 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. With that, our Blackhawks team wanted to get together to reflect on this monumental change. But the Kraken really liked what they saw and felt he could be their Swiss Army knife, so to speak.. His deal expired after last season. I played football, and I was eliminated as the pyramid got higher and narrower. We appreciate his many . Short Bio. Im frustrated that the Blackhawks could not get a deal done, and Im sad because of what the team will miss. him some grave news about her namesake thoroughbred. Reviews. 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. 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." The Hawks and Olczyk reached a verbal agreement to create another contract before then. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. They could have offered him more money or a longer contract. The first door he tries is locked, so he heads to a second, and that one opens for him. He also was the lead color commentator for NHL on NBC, and previously for the NHL on Versus; the latter later rebranded as NBCSN in 2012. 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. If it was me, I would give her a shot. "It's neat," Ricky said. I'm very fortunate to have that relationship with him. 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 . No matter where they lived, the boys didnt let go of their hockey dreams. He owned a thoroughbred he named Diana O., after his wife. It was five years ago last month that Olczyk announced he was stepping away from NBC work to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. This is what I will remember about Eddie O. She was in the studio for pre-game, post-game, and intermission analysis. They showed an extreme interest in wanting me, or at least exploring the opportunity, Olczyk said of the Kraken. "I've always tied it somehow. It was a thrill for me to see both sons be so good and successful. Before he watched the late telecast of the race on TV, his wife called to. He used to drive from Chicago to Indianapolis to make 50 bucks a game, Olczyk said. Reviews. Hell join the Krakens booth next season. Yet the Hawks paved the way for both of their exits, skewing younger and more social-media-savvy. His son Nick discussed a TV studio analyst role with the Kraken and signed with the organization before his father did. Eddie skated, and a hockey family was born. Add local institution Eddie Olczyk to the list. Ed Olczyk is a member of NBC's Horse Racing coverage. The 1984 draft class saw legends like Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy, and Brett Hull all join the NHL. Hes focused on the present. Olczyk said details for the planned three-man setup remain in flux. She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. During the next season, he was traded back to the Winnipeg Jets for their fifth-round choice (who ended up being Alexei Vasiliev) in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. 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. 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. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. 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., And with their family, was always Diana. Would she thrive in a bigger role? I do have to look over. We appreciate his many contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.. I'm just proud as heck.". You need that entering a rebuild, and theyre missing out. He has learned to sleep on planes over the years, so that helps. However, people grow into that legendary status all the time within hockey. For an Original Six franchise, the Blackhawks need to do right by their fans here, which lately hasnt always been the case. Ricky looked up to his older brother throughout Eddie's hockey ascension and began dedicating himself to the sport as well. 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. SUMMARY Eddie, we look up words like courage, grace, professionalism, family man; your picture shows up all over them. The hockey tradition has also carried on with Eddie's three sons, who are all coaching and playing hockey. On Oct. 15, 2012, Eddie Olczyk before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2012 induction dinner in Dallas. My dad is the strongest person I know. 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. Through their ups and downs, he was the voice of reason for Chicago and was one of the teams biggest ambassadors. The trio have provided commentary for every EA Sports NHL game until NHL 19, when Ferraro became the new color commentator. And its OK to get that in there. His younger brother, Ricky Olczyk, also fell in love with the game. Eddie Olczyk, a former hockey player turned color commenter, went to the hospital during the second intermission of the broadcast Saturday due to his health problem and is likely to be in his home or hospital tonight. Olczyk has several connections to the Kraken. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Im sure Sharpie will probably have it taped off and let me know theres a password to get in there.. But despite Rocky Wirtzs feelings for him, the Hawks drew a line with Olczyk. The Blackhawks granted that permission, which Olczyk said surprised him. Is Najee Harris Related to Pittsburgh Steelers Legend, Franco Harris? He expects to do about 45 Kraken games and probably another 50 NHL games, including the playoffs, with TNT. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. He understands Chicago fans, and he connected with them so well because of that. I was lucky enough that I had the support of my folks and I had a gift. Its tough to say. Well, now two different voices. 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 .