Thats as far as Im gonna go on that. I had an incredible conversation with [chairman Rocky Wirtz], met with him in person, as well as Danny [Wirtz] and Jaime [Faulkner]. There was a contract on the table, but I have decided to step away. About 25 years ago, Diana O. ranin the Pocahontas Stakes while Eddie was in Winnipeg for the hockey game. With that, our Blackhawks team wanted to get together to reflect on this monumental change. Those who are a fan of image upscaling and Fallout 4 will be pleased to Eddie's sons are continuing the hockey tradition in the Olczyk family. Although the news is still shocking, the dust has settled after a few days. Olczyk still doesnt want to get too into why he passed on the Blackhawks contract offer and ultimately left the team. The Blackhawks granted that permission, which Olczyk said surprised him. 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 . "I knew what I wanted to do when I was 12 years old. That kind of reminds you, 'Work hard and you do what you have to do and it's for your children.' 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. 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. And now to have a full-time job as a broadcaster in the NHL, its unbelievable. 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." 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Look, I never thought Id leave home. Of course, not knowing the details of the negotiation, its hard to gauge what that offer may or may not have looked like. Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Eddie skated, and a hockey family was born. Thank you Eddie for all you have done for the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago, and best of luck on your newest adventure! 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. Theres great disappointment, but this was my decision. 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. The yellow pamphlet was an invitation to learn how to skate at Ballard Sports Complex in Niles, Illinois. And so, when extension talks with the Blackhawks snagged this summer, Olczyk didnt hesitate when his brothers team made their pitch. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. The nurse keeps popping in and out not to check on Diana, but to tell Olczyk that the Maple Leafs. 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. CHICAGO Eddie Olczyk is leaving the Chicago Blackhawks after 16 years as a color commentator on their television broadcasts. His brother Ricky is an assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. Honestly, more disappointed than surprised. This is what I will remember about Eddie O. To us, family is everything.". I had one goal. The weathers been unbelievable, Olczyk said. As a youth, Olczyk played in the 1978 and 1979 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Chicago. 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. But, with the attention surrounding the story, he couldn't help but clear the air. The 55-year-old spent the past 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their TV color . He underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. 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. Not because its not possible, but more so because the void that Foley and Olczyk leave will be extremely difficult to fill. After Emrick retired on October 19, 2020, at the end of the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals, he was paired with Kenny Albert and John Forslund for most of the regular season but was paired with Albert for the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Finals. Ed Olczyk is a member of NBC's Horse Racing coverage. 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. His older fans followed him from his days in National Hockey League while his younger fans . (Scott Powers / The Athletic). Who Is Kimmi Chex? [8], Olczyk and his wife, Diana, have three sons, all former hockey players, and one daughter. Their daughter, Alexandra is a student at the University of Alabama. Born as Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk on 16 August 1966, Ed is a native of Chicago, Illinois. 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. 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. July 23, 2022 by Brooke LoFurno. Eddie III played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with Bloomington Thunder. He was one last thing to cling to, and now he is gone. 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.. Follow Scott on Twitter @byscottpowers, Nick Olczyk, John Forslund and Eddie Olczyk are part of the Krakens broadcast team this season. We appreciate his many contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.. She would take their sons to their hockey games and trips, carrying three bags of hockey gear, and tied their skates. That is what Im going to miss. Itll be great to be back home and Im sure it will be emotional for me on the inside, for sure. My family and I appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on my treatments.". 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. 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. And it all came to an end. Olczyk stated, Negotiations are hard. That allowed the Kraken to swoop in. On July 18, 2022, Olczyk left the Blackhawks following a contract dispute to join the broadcasting team for the Seattle Kraken. 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. It will be a growing season within the booth next year for sure. Eddie Olczyk: Birth Realities, Family, and Childhood Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. was conceived on August 16, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. "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. According to multiple media reports, Eddie Olczyk is leaving his role as the color analyst for NBC Sports Chicago's broadcasts of Blackhawks games. He underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. Theres plenty of work ahead perfecting this seasons setup for a second-year Kraken fan base quite different from the Original Six market he left behind. "I kid them every so often, 'You guys never had a real job.' He eventually arrives at a restaurant. I'm just proud as heck.". "Once you're in, you're in," said Eddie, 49, who is an analyst for the Chicago Blackhawks and nationally for NBC. Everyone's schedule had to be in sync to get to practices on time. Olczyk, who has been on Hawks broadcasts since 2006, couldnt reach an agreement with management on a new contract. However, people grow into that legendary status all the time within hockey. He did over 200 games in Indy and got an unbelievable opportunity when my former linemate, Troy, got sick. He worked on the coaching staff of Niagara Universitys hockey team and is currently a coach at Bemidji State University, UMass. Reviews. And its been hard with my mother. Eddie will always be part of the Blackhawks family. Every time his dad would get traded or signed somewhere new, there was the rest of the Olczyk clan. The grueling ordeal, chronicled in hisBeating the Odds: In Hockey and in Lifebook co-authored with Perry Lefko, ended in March 2018 when he announced on-air he was cancer-free. 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. 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. Diana O. was in the lead at one point and it looked like she could win. Nevertheless, he will always be a Blackhawk and will forever be part of the Chicago family. He was hired by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007 as director of hockey administration and legal affairs, and eventually was promoted to assistant general manager. 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. Editorial Reviews. It was on a flight with the Chicago Blackhawks, who picked him in 1984 NHL draft, that he met Diana. The weather has even surprised him. Eddie Olczyk has been the Blackhawks TV analyst since 2006. Olczyks brother Ricky is a Kraken assistant general manager, his son Eddie is an amateur scout and general manager Ron Francis is a close friend. "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. Now, I completely respect Olczyks decision to step aside, especially if the two sides were not willing to come to an agreement. Despite adding marquee free-agents, the Penguins started the season with a disappointing 8176 record, leading to Olczyk's dismissal on December 15.[5]. Ill leave it at that. I'm very fortunate to have that relationship with him. Olczyk is one of the best analysts in not just the NHL but all of professional sports. He took a break from his broadcast activities and is currently receiving treatment. His son Nick discussed a TV studio analyst role with the Kraken and signed with the organization before his father did. SUMMARY The Blackhawks are undergoing a true rebuild, and Olczyk would have been a credible voice for the fans. The family shared Eddie's hockey journey, turning out-of-state hockey tournaments into vacations. He even stated, I will die a Blackhawk. Because of that, he could relay what most were thinking, whether good or bad. [11], Rick Olczyk, Eddie's younger brother, is a former hockey player for Brown University and became an assistant general manager for the Kraken in 2019.