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Perfect hires, Blackhawks forever, and so I think its a win-win for them doing the games, Olczyk said. He had also been working for NBC Sports Chicago behind the scenes. Itll always be home. The couple has four children namely Nick, Tom, Rick, and a daughter called Zandra. Beginning with the 200607 NHL season, Olczyk was the color commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks television broadcasts, partnering play-by-play announcer Pat Foley. Lets face it; he was the voice of the Blackhawks for the last 16 years. 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. [10] Olczyk's daughter Zandra attended the University of Alabama. The record was broken by Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks during the 201516 season. . Eddie Olczyk was ready to give up. Eddie went on to become one of the United States' top players. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. Theres a hockey history here, but you always have to assume theres somebody new watching, Olczyk said. He was teammates with Eddie and now works with Ricky, and Francis wasn't surprised the brothers each reached the NHL. Hell be there on Sunday as the Kraken visit the Blackhawks. Throughout his life he transitioned his focus to many different career paths but after he was diagnosed with cancer his priorities shifted. Eddie Olczyk is a big man. The couple now owns four thoroughbred horses and hes also a big advocate of the safety of the animals. 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. 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. My mom would take my dad's car to go home to go south. Ricky looked up to his older brother throughout Eddie's hockey ascension and began dedicating himself to the sport as well. The Kraken were well aware of Olczyks contract status. Eddie Olczyk. But that had some major play in it.. But lets face it, the Blackhawks are trying to start anew. Next Up In Nicks hiring by the Kraken did help make Olczyks decision easier. And so, when extension talks with the Blackhawks snagged this summer, Olczyk didnt hesitate when his brothers team made their pitch. 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. He had worked many national games with Forslund over the years, so there was immediate comfort there. 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. He's a phenomenal teacher of the greatest game in the world and will now be showing everyone how he will overcome this obstacle. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. On Oct. 15, 2012, Eddie Olczyk before the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2012 induction dinner in Dallas. Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for nationally ranked Penn State. The NFL pro-turned-sports-analysts life revolves around hockey and Eddie Olczyks wife is also a fan of the sport. 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 believes that should be great for the network and the league. He continues through another door that leads him outside, then through another door back inside. Michigan had the highest population of Olczyk families in 1920. Diana and Eddie Olczyk are parents to four children. 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. Perhaps it didnt really matter what the Blackhawks threw his way, as he may have been waiting for the perfect excuse to find his way out of town anyway. He is one of us, a Blackhawks fan. Rather, we get to remember the calls that made celebrating their achievements that much more because he was part of sharing the good news. Eddie Olczyk revealed that he has cancer but wont let it defeat him thanks to the support of his wife and family. Lightning, his father was diagnosed with colon cancer. Theres great disappointment, but this was my decision. Against all odds, he played on On July 18, 2022, Olczyk left the Blackhawks following a contract dispute to join the broadcasting team for the Seattle Kraken. "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. . 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. He attended Brother Rice Catholic High School. 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. 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. 204 ratings24 reviews. Also, given Vosters is still relatively new, I strongly believe it would be in the teams best interests to find a well-known, respected veteran to pair with him, even if its as simple as moving Troy Murray from the radio broadcast. Eddie preserved the puck from the game he played that day and wrote Diana O. on it. Book a personalized video $49. It seems like the Blackhawks stiffed him in that sense, and if thats the case, then thats disheartening knowing they didnt step up to the plate. Click here to follow the Blackhawks Talk Podcast. Reviews. He shares the same sentiment about his departure. The Olczyk family didnt have it easy when Eddie played in the NHL. And it all began with that little yellow pamphlet. Ricky had a few small professional hockey opportunities out of college, but decided against them. 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. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File . That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' Sign up for our regular 'Blackhawks Newsletter' for all the latest. Once the time came, the longtime broadcaster initiated meetings with Rocky and Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner. Health: Olzic released a statement via Blackhawks announcing that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. I mean thats just the reality of the world we live in. As time passed and Olczyk hadnt signed a new contract with the Blackhawks, there was the growing possibility he could become a free agent. Im envious of his new colleagues in Seattle and all the people he will influence and mentor there, just like he did in Chicago. On behalf of the Writz family, thank you for what you do for us every day. He expects to do about 45 Kraken games and probably another 50 NHL games, including the playoffs, with TNT. 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. No one will ever be able to replace Edzo, but you need those traits for the lead analyst role. Eddie Olczyk had built a life and career most people could only dream of. Like the Blackhawks who seemed to always put competing at the forefront, Eddie led with passion in all he did for the franchise. On July 11, 2012, Olczyk became the 16th Blackhawks player elected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. He would have been honest, but also positive, about the new direction. The team will be hard enough to watch. The Sutter family, theyve been able to work together. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. If they put something to mind, there's a good chance they'll succeed at it.". His own brush with mortality isnt something new Kraken television voice Eddie Olczyk takes lightly; a well-chronicled bout with Stage 3 colon cancer not too long ago he wasnt certain hed survive. He was also inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. It was a thrill for me to see both sons be so good and successful. 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. Its not a great look for the organization, especially knowing that retaining him would be necessary for next seasons struggles. 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]. The Olczyk family name was found in the USA in 1920. CHICAGO Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. Rickys place in the organization definitely helped facilitate the family coming together with the Kraken. him some grave news about her namesake thoroughbred. His younger brother, Ricky Olczyk, also fell in love with the game. (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. 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. "For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to have legendary broadcaster Eddie Olczyk bring Chicago Blackhawks hockey into the homes of our fans. Its the first time hes been on the same team as his older brother, Eddie. The 55-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their TV color . "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. Despite his arrival at Turner for hockey, Olczyks deal will allow him to remain at NBC to cover handicap horse racing. Having grown up in the hockey aspect of it, you just watch them all how they grow on the ice and as human beings, said Diana. 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. Well. And with their family, was always Diana. So, Ive always admired that. He has more than earned the right to command whatever he wants as far as contracts go. I want to make that perfectly clear this was my decision.". I was lucky enough that I had the support of my folks and I had a gift. Olczyk already had a ton of reasons to consider joining the Kraken. 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. I do have to look over. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. But I dont see that happening for a long time. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. Brown on the local TV Seattle broadcast in the evening. Theres negotiations, and we agreed to disagree, and everybody has moved on, he said. Im frustrated and sad about this news.