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. 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. And so when I got sick, theres some peace with that.. One of the best in the business. Nevertheless, he will always be a Blackhawk and will forever be part of the Chicago family. They already have had significant layoffs in the organization, and now with Foley and Olczyk off the payroll and a cost-saving rebuild underway they can save more. What weve gone through transitionally, moving, new schools, finding doctors, friends, thats crazy. Regarding a replacement for Eddie, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic brought up the names of Patrick Sharp, Adam Burish, and Caley Chelios. Theres great disappointment, but this was my decision. Im not confident that theyll find their permanent fit by next season. Eddie Olczyk: Birth Realities, Family, and Childhood Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. was conceived on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. We both do it with [other brother] Randy as well.". As a player, he was the winner of the Stanley Cup with the . Thanks so much for this great birthday video . Olczyk kept saying, It was time to step back. With his brother Ricky being the assistant general manager for the Kraken, Perhaps he just saw this new opportunity as a better way to go out than the slog that will probably be the Blackhawks for years to come. 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 also doesnt have to wait long to return to Chicago and the United Center. 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. Fans knew that the iconic duo of Pat Foley and Olczyk calling Blackhawks games wouldnt last forever, but no one expected it to end this abruptly. Having said that, this is a huge, huge blow for the Blackhawks and their fans. 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. His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. In the big picture, the Hawks are focused on saving money. Brown on the local TV Seattle broadcast in the evening. And Olczyk is still awaiting a finalized national broadcast schedule from TNT before he knows which ROOT games hell do. But it was not meant to be. "Both my boys and my brother, and (general manager) Ronnie Francis, we. At the end of the 53 U.S. win over Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Olczyk described the game as being "tremendously tremendous" after U.S. forward Ryan Kesler scored an empty-netter. I played football, and I was eliminated as the pyramid got higher and narrower. 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. "This will always be my home," Olczyk said. Though I didnt necessarily think this meant Olczyk would leave the booth, Im not necessarily as shocked about this news as others. 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). But, of course, both say thats a compliment. 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. Thats a fact. He owned a thoroughbred he named Diana O., after his wife. He didnt elaborate on theirlove story, but obviously, it worked out well for this longtime married couple. He even stated, I will die a Blackhawk. Because of that, he could relay what most were thinking, whether good or bad. 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. Not confident at all. 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. 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. Burish seems like someone who could fly off the handle, or perhaps not be as controlled or professional as the organization might want. He often traveled for NHL games and his work still leads him to travel across the country. He continues through another door that leads him outside, then through another door back inside. On Buzzlearn.com, Eddie is listed as a successful Hockey Player who was born in the year of 1966. The Blackhawks granted that permission, which Olczyk said surprised him. 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. He had 794 points (342 goals, 452 assists) in 1,031 games for the Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, and was part of the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup championship. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. "I knew what I wanted to do when I was 12 years old. Anytime you lose a family member, especially a parent, you need the one captain to take the bull by the horns, and Rickys done that. He joined the Hurricanes as assistant general manager in June 2014. The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. He wanted theopportunity to join the winners circle with Diana O. one day. At the end of the day it is always about money and terms. Hall of Fame play-by-play voice Pat Foley and Olczyk worked together for 14 years, and they were always entertaining and informative. But I am also happy for him as he has a lot of family connections in Seattle. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old . 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. Short Bio. They may not know what an icing is, or a specific slang in hockey. Good, high-quality broadcasters matter, and with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews being the exception, this feels tougher than losing any player. 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. 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 . As regards, Eddie's childhood he was raised . His son, Nick, has rented near him, but on a more permanent basis as he develops Kraken content across TV, radio and digital platforms. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. In 2009, Olczyk received an Emmy for "Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera: Programming," followed by a 2012 Emmy for "Outstanding Achievement for Sports Programs - Sporting Event/Game - Live/Unedited Program/Special." Wed never played together, never worked on a team together because of the age and stuff. Of course, not knowing the details of the negotiation, its hard to gauge what that offer may or may not have looked like. In any case, we are obscure to the character of his folks. 1 Marriage 4 Children. Diana and Eddie Olczyk are parents to four children. 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 Olczyk on Unfiltered: 'This was my decision' originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. Theres a hockey history here, but you always have to assume theres somebody new watching, Olczyk said. Im frustrated and sad about this news. Olczyk was born and raised in Chicago. He's expected to work . Not solely because of the Olczyk news, but more so because of all that led up to it. He eventually arrives at a restaurant. There was a contract on the table, but I have decided to step away. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. "The mom and dad are extremely honest, hardworking, genuine people. On December 30, 2010, it was announced that Foley and Olczyk signed a three-year extension to stay with the Blackhawks. Absolutely. The Olczyk family lived a comfortable life as his father had earned a huge sum of money in his career. Hes still commuting between coasts, keeping an Eastside residence for when hes working here. Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for nationally ranked Penn State. 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 played 16 seasons in the NHL, coached in the NHL and is now one of the game's most recognizable television commentators. Despite adding marquee free-agents, the Penguins started the season with a disappointing 8176 record, leading to Olczyk's dismissal on December 15.[5]. "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. Longtime analyst Eddie Olczyk will not return to the team. I never dreamed hed make it to the NHL this fast, and it was an unfortunate circumstance. She made quite a name for herself as a player wife and mother. Join host Nick Olczyk for exclusive interviews, analysis, and dispatches from the road. Eddie Olszyk Jr., the son of former NHL forward and NBC Sports hockey analyst Eddie Olszyk, released the following statement on Twitter Thursday, in response to the countless messages the family received after his father was diagnosed with colon cancer. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. Whos to say the Blackhawks cant find another as they were lucky enough to find two? Scott Powers is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Blackhawks. His brother, Ricky, was in the front office. 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. Olczyk feels the same. Just the timing is what it is, and you have to make those decisions. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, he fell in love with the game of hockey during an era when most kids preferred balls to pucks. The NFL pro-turned-sports-analysts life revolves around hockey and Eddie Olczyks wife is also a fan of the sport. Eddie Olczyk Son Two of his children are currently playing hockey. But before the horse made it to the finish line, she suffered an injury. Brian, Darryl, Duane, and theyve had situations where theyve worked in the same organization. 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. The Family Man. We did because I have a lot of respect for Danny (Wirtz) and Jaime (Faulkner), and I also know Jamie Spencer in the organization, Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said. Hell join the Krakens broadcast booth and continue as an analyst for TNT. Born as Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk on 16 August 1966, Ed is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Itll always be home. Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. He had also been working for NBC Sports Chicago behind the scenes. His deal expired after last season. My dad is the strongest person I know. We are going to miss him as much as our fans will. Tommy is a nationally ranked senior forward for Penn State. Eddie Olczyk (fully Edward Walter Olczyk Jr.) is an American professional ice hockey analyst who also formerly played ice hockey as a center for NHL teams like Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Eddie Olczyk, Former NHL player, coach, and commentator It was not until August 4, 2017, that his life changed forever. In the 1989-90 season, Olczyk recorded an 18 game point streak, setting the record for longest point streak by an American player. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. 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. Nothing is said in exchange, and he carries on. "Again, his love for hockey and his passion, and my love and passion for hockey is a common bond. 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. You need that entering a rebuild, and theyre missing out. He used to drive from Chicago to Indianapolis to make 50 bucks a game, Olczyk said. Later tied by Phil Kessel, the record would stand until being passed by Patrick Kane in 2015-16 season. His son Eddie was a Kraken amateur scout. The 55-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their TV color . Olczyk, who turns 51 on Aug. 16, had surgery last week, and Chicago Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry said . 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. I want to thank Eddie for his unsuffered commitment to this organization, even in the face of personal challenges, Wirtz said. They could have him, Forslund and Brown in the same booth depending on the size of an arenas broadcast area or have one working from a different vantage point. He expects to do about 45 Kraken games and probably another 50 NHL games, including the playoffs, with TNT. Eddie Olczyk Wife He married a beutiful woman called Diana Olczyk. 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. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. 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. According to a source, the Hawks would not give him the same contract length that the Kraken did. To be around Ricky is big, because I dont always get the chance, Olczyk said of his brother, who was a team captain at Brown University and used his law degree to break into the NHL, serving as an AGM in Edmonton and Carolina. He'll be back on his feet, in the booth, and at the track in no time. He is a class act. The Hawks have been undergoing turnover in seemingly every facet of business and hockey operations. Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. (/ o l t k /; 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.He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. As much as he never expected to leave the Blackhawks, the Kraken presented a perfect option. The couple has four children namely Nick, Tom, Rick, and a daughter called Zandra. Tommy, 25, is a senior forward for nationally ranked Penn State. The weathers been unbelievable, Olczyk said. 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. In a lot of ways, all this seems very normal. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You think of Kane and Toews on the ice and Pat and Eddie in the booth. The yellow pamphlet was an invitation to learn how to skate at Ballard Sports Complex in Niles, Illinois. Eddie Olczyk joined the Seattle Kraken broadcast team as a television analyst Thursday. 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. And the one thing I guess Im proud and excited to say is that I dont. Meet the Rumored New Head Coach of the Utah Jazz. Olczyk was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He has more than earned the right to command whatever he wants as far as contracts go. 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. [9] Tom, who played hockey at Penn State, most recently played professionally for the Indy Fuel of the ECHL and the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. It started with multiple reports detailing that he was stepping away. He was selected to repeat his duties alongside Emrick for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.[6]. His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. Olczyk will team with John Forslund to form one of the best TV tandems in hockey which the Hawks once had. 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. 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.. He coached the Penguins for two seasons between 2003-05, going 31-64-10 with eight ties. Neither would eleven, five, or even six. I want to make that perfectly clear this was my decision.". His tiring flight schedule throughout his career had an upside. , but obviously, it worked out well for this longtime married couple. Eddie Olczyk was born on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Eddie Olczyk. She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. Those who are a fan of image upscaling and Fallout 4 will be pleased to And so to be able to work with him, its extremely satisfying, gratifying. 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. Olczyk already had a ton of reasons to consider joining the Kraken. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, he fell in love with the game of hockey during an era when most kids preferred balls to pucks. And Im happy for the organization, obviously, on a professional level, but on a personal level, Im just ecstatic and over the moon.. Since the 201819 NHL season, "Inside-the-Glass" reporter Brian Boucher joins Emrick, Olczyk, and McGuire for big games. Eddie preserved the puck from the game he played that day and wrote Diana O. on it. Eddie went on to become one of the United States' top players. 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. The same thinking could be applied to any of their offseason departures, in that it feels like the Blackhawks failed to do much of anything when it came to finding a way to keep fan favourites around. The couple now owns four thoroughbred horses and hes also a big advocate of the safety of the animals. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential . "I had a great meeting earlier today with Rocky Wirtz and had a great meeting with Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner. His son, Eddie Jr., who played junior hockey with Brown in the USHL, was already a Kraken scout, while his other son, Nick, has also joined the ROOT broadcast crew. Olczyk then turned the mic over to Rocky Wirtz, who thanked everyone for attending before heaping praise on Olczyk. His oldest son, also named Eddie, is a 26-year-old assistant coach at Niagara University. However, it feels like there may have also been a little more at play in this particular scenario. I just expressed to them that I felt at this particular time it was best for me step away. Chelios, well, I was impressed with ALL her commentary last season, of which she was trialed in all aspects. It will be a growing season within the booth next year for sure. Eddie Olczyk's cancer battle was an extended family affair. Contents: Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk Jr. is an American former professional hockey player and head coach from the United States. 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? He also currently serves as the Horse Racing Handicapper and Analyst for NBC's Horse Racing Coverage. FACT CHECK: Dave Ramsey Made a Statement About America Online, FACT CHECK: CIA Director Gina Haspel Found Dead, FACT CHECK: Kwik Trip Launches Kwik Strip Gentlemens Clubs, Eddie Olczyk has a high-flying career literally. Eddie Olczyk. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. The Sutter family, theyve been able to work together. Follow Scott on Twitter @byscottpowers, Nick Olczyk, John Forslund and Eddie Olczyk are part of the Krakens broadcast team this season. No. In March 2018, Olczyk announced that he was officially "cancer-free". That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. A post shared by Chicago Blackhawks (@nhlblackhawks). The record was broken by Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks during the 201516 season. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on February 22, 2013. But as a woman, Im probably a bit partial. His younger brother, Ricky Olczyk, also fell in love with the game. as well as a few other broadcasts, he accumulated many frequent flier miles! Related: Blackhawks 4 Best Options to Replace Eddie Olczyk as TV Analyst. Plus the fact that he always went out of his way to praise his partner, The great Pat Foley.Shucks, nobody calls me, The great Gail Kauchak!. On behalf of the Writz family, thank you for what you do for us every day. From a broadcast standpoint, nothing has been different for Olczyk working for the Kraken. No one will know the real reasons the contract went into the paper shredder. Am I working with Kenny (Albert), or Johnny (Forslund) or Jonesy (Keith Jones) or J.T.? Plus, like with all of his contracts, Olczyk had asked his brother, Ricky, a former lawyer, to look it over before signing. 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. But he drew one, too and it leads to Seattle. Its impossible to replace legendary broadcasters like Olczyk, so its hard for anyone to live up to those expectations. She did radio analysis, and she called a few games on TV. 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. Olczyk has rented a two-bedroom apartment in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue. But despite Rocky Wirtzs feelings for him, the Hawks drew a line with Olczyk. Thats just whatever. His deal expired after last season. Olczyk still doesnt want to get too into why he passed on the Blackhawks contract offer and ultimately left the team. Theres negotiations, and we agreed to disagree, and everybody has moved on, he said. Every time his dad would get traded or signed somewhere new, there was the rest of the Olczyk clan. It wasnt a secret he was due a new deal in the summer. But the Kraken really liked what they saw and felt he could be their Swiss Army knife, so to speak.. The weather has even surprised him. "For 16 seasons, we were fortunate to have legendary broadcaster Eddie Olczyk bring Chicago Blackhawks hockey into the homes of our fans. Heres what you need to know about Eddie Olczyks wife, Diana Olczyk. Olczyk won't return as a color commentator for Hawks games on NBC Sports Chicago,. Id like to say that Im shocked, but numb might be a more fitting word to use at this point. On July 11, 2012, Olczyk became the 16th Blackhawks player elected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Some will do it better than others and an imbalance in air time will ensue. In 1920 there were 2 Olczyk families living in Michigan. Eddie's sons are continuing the hockey tradition in the Olczyk family. However, I feel like that may not be a realistic possibility, considering the teams apparent youth movement. 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. They're just good people and hardworking. The Blackhawks honored "Edzo" for his induction in a pregame ceremony on February 22, 2013, at the United Center.