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Pat Foley
A white man in a red polo shirt and sunglasses is standing atop a red double-decker bus, raising his hat, and looking towards the photographer's right.
Foley photographed on June 11, 2010
Born1954 (age 69–70)
Glenview, Illinois,US
EducationBS,Michigan State
OccupationPlay-by-play commentator
Years active1977–2022
Employers

Pat Foley(born 1954) is an American retiredplay-by-play commentatorforice hockey.

Personal life[edit]

Born inGlenview, Illinoisin 1954,[1]Pat Foley is the son of Mary and Bob Foley.[2]He is an alumnus ofLoyola AcademyandMichigan State University,with aBachelor of Scienceintelecommunicationsfrom the latter.[1]

Career[edit]

In 1964, Foley was allowed into the radio booth atWrigley Fieldand sat alongside announcersLou BoudreauandJack Quinlan.This sparked his interest inplay-by-play commentating.[2]After calling baseball and hockey games atMichigan State University,in 1977[3]he began his career inGrand Rapids, Michiganannouncingminor league hockeygames. His father would take the recordings of Foley atGrand Rapids Owls' games and pass them along toMichael Wirtz,brother ofBill Wirtz,owner of theChicago Blackhawks.This secured Foley a position at the company, and his first game was the nightStan Mikita's number was retired[2]in 1981.[1]

Foley worked for the Blackhawks as a play-by-play commentator from 1981 to 2006.[1]He was fired "amid a rift with [Blackhawks] management" in 2006.[4]Foley spent the2006–07and2007–08 AHL seasonscalling games for theChicago Wolves.[5]He returned to the Blackhawks in 2008 following the death of Bill Wirtz,[2]and partnered withEddie Olczyk.[1]On June 23, 2021, the Blackhawks announced via Twitter that the2021–22 NHL seasonwould be Foley's final season calling games.[6]Foley explained his decision to retire, commenting, "I just don't have 82 in me anymore. That's a lot of games, and 82 is not for me. Will I never step behind a microphone again? Not saying that. But not full-time."[7]He called his final official game on April 14, 2022, after 39 years with the Blackhawks.[8]

Invited byNick Olczyk,the retired Foley joined him andBilly Jaffein calling the2023 NHL Winter ClassicatFenway Parkon January 2, 2023.[9]

Legacy[edit]

Foley became renowned for his exclamation duringthe Blackhawks' game against the Minnesota North Starsfor the1985 Stanley Cup playoffs.WhenMurray Bannerman"made a dramatic save on a breakaway, Foley cried out, 'BANNERRRMANNN!'"By 2014, Foley was still constantly asked to repeat the iconic outburst.[2]John McDonoughdescribed Foley as "synonymous with Blackhawks hockey [with a voice that] resonates loudly to our entire fan base."[5]

Foley wonEmmy Awardsin 1991,[5]2009, 2012, 2014, and 2015.[3]He was inducted into theChicagoland Sports Hall of Famein 2002.[1]On April 19, 2013,NBC Sports Chicagohonored Foley for his 30th season with the Blackhawks.[3]In 2014, he received theFoster Hewitt Memorial Award[2]and entered theHockey Hall of Fame.[10]In 2019, theNational Sports Media Associationnamed Foley the Illinois Sportscaster of the Year.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdef"Blackhawks Broadcasters Foley & Olczyk Receive Three Year Extensions".Chicagoland Radio & Media. December 31, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2013.RetrievedNovember 17,2019.
  2. ^abcdefSherman, Ed (November 15, 2014)."Blackhawks voice Pat Foley's journey to Hockey Hall of Fame".Chicago Tribune.ISSN2165-171X.Archivedfrom the original on June 28, 2021.RetrievedOctober 18,2021.
  3. ^abcd"Pat Foley - TV Play-By-Play".National Hockey League.Archivedfrom the original on October 18, 2021.RetrievedOctober 18,2021.
  4. ^"People & Personalities: Foley Officially Back With Blackhawks".SportsBusiness Daily.Advance. June 17, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2009.RetrievedNovember 17,2019.
  5. ^abc"Pat Foley returns to Hawks".Chicago Sun-Times.Cyrus Freidheim Jr. June 16, 2008.ISSN1553-8478.Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2008.RetrievedNovember 17,2019.
  6. ^Chicago Blackhawks [@NHLBlackhawks](June 23, 2021)."Hall of Fame play-by-play broadcaster Pat Foley will call his final season of #Blackhawks hockey during the 2021-22 campaign. A titan of the NHL and Chicago broadcasting community, Foley's 39th season in the booth will include a year-long celebration"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on June 23, 2021.RetrievedJune 23,2021– viaTwitter.
  7. ^Verdi, Bob(April 11, 2022)."VERDICT: Voice of a Generation, Foley Set to Sign Off After 39 Seasons".National Hockey League.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2022.RetrievedMay 1,2022.Pat Foley to wrap 'fairy tale' career this week as team's longest-serving broadcaster
  8. ^Kueppers, Courtney (April 15, 2022)."After 39 seasons at the mic, Blackhawks announcer Pat Foley called his final game Thursday".WBEZ.Associated Press.Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2022.RetrievedMay 1,2022.
  9. ^Thompson, Phil (January 2, 2023)."Catching up with Pat Foley: Retired Chicago Blackhawks broadcaster adds Winter Classic game at Fenway Park to his resume".Chicago Tribune.ISSN2165-171X.OCLC7960243.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2023.RetrievedMay 23,2023.
  10. ^Powers, Scott (November 17, 2014)."Foley's career 'beyond dreamlike' as he enters Hall of Fame".Chicago:ESPN.Archivedfrom the original on February 19, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 19,2021.
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