As I woke up on Monday morning, I received an ESPN notification that Mike “Doc” Emrick, the lead Play-By-Play Announcer for the NHL on NBC, is retiring after calling hockey games for over 40 years. Doc was the announcer many hockey fans grew up listening to, myself included.  

I will never forget my dad letting my brother and I stay up late to watch Doc call Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers in 2006. The first year I started following hockey when I was seven years old. Or when I was on vacation in New Jersey jumping up and down in joy as the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup during my lifetime in 2009. Those great moments as a fan of hockey from a young age will always live with me knowing Doc was there as well. 

 I will miss Doc’s love and enthusiasm he brought to the game every time he put on a headset. You knew you were in for a good show whenever you turned on the NBC Sports, and Doc would call the game with his endless vocabulary and enthusiastic tone that would transfer to your living room.  

Also, thanks to the Center for Sports Media and Marketing, I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting Doc when he came for a visit to Point Park last year. I will never forget his kindness and the advice he told us as we are beginning our careers. It was such a humbling honor, knowing we were in the presence of the man that has called almost every significant hockey moment from the past two decades. Some examples include numerous Stanley Cup Finals, the first Winter Classic game with the Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres, and Sidney Crosby’s overtime game-winner in the 2010 Olympics for Canada.  

Mr. Emrick, thank you so much for being a significant influence on me both personally and professionally; I wish you nothing but the best on a well-deserved retirement!