(670 The Score) The 2021-’22 season will be Blackhawks television play-by-play broadcaster Pat Foley’s final one with the organization, the team announced Wednesday morning.
Next season marks the final one of Foley’s contract, and he indicated he isn’t sure he wants to work beyond that. With that in mind, the Blackhawks have already begun their search for Foley’s replacement, they said.
“Listening to the great Lloyd Pettit fostered a love for the Chicago Blackhawks and broadcasting at an early age. To follow in his footsteps and broadcast for the team for nearly 40 years is a dream come true for a Chicago native,” Foley said in a statement. “Any kid who eats, sleeps and breathes sports grows up wanting to play for their hometown team. Thankfully for me, I realized early on that my playing career wouldn’t last beyond intramurals and that broadcasting was the next best thing to staying around the game. I have had conversations with the Blackhawks about my future, and because I cannot guarantee that I would like to continue beyond the length of my contract that ends after next season, they must look ahead. I support and respect their plan to transition the broadcast booth and I’m thankful to the Wirtz family and the Blackhawks for this opportunity.”
Foley’s 39th season in the booth will include a year-long celebration of his career, the Blackhawks said. Foley called Blackhawks games from 1980 to 2006 and returned to their booth ahead of the 2008-’09 season.
Foley was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and is a multi-time Emmy-award winner. In 2014, he was selected as the Hockey Hall of Fame Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.
“Pat Foley has been synonymous with Chicago Blackhawks hockey for well over a generation,” Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said in a statement. “We are thankful for the memories Pat has created for our fans through the years and he will continue to be a part of the Blackhawks family. We are excited to begin this search for a new television play-by-play broadcaster who will create Blackhawks memories for the next generation of fans.”
“Pat Foley is not just a legendary broadcaster and great partner in the booth, but I’m proud to say he is an even better friend,” broadcast partner Eddie Olczyk said in a statement. “Two Chicago guys calling Blackhawks hockey for the past 15 years has been a dream come true for me and I’m so fortunate to have that experience. I’m so happy for him to be able to go out on his own terms and so proud of what he has accomplished. Pat Foley will always be the voice of Blackhawks hockey and we will be sure to entertain our fans and celebrate Pat this season.”
In May, Foley made what the Blackhawks called an “absolutely unacceptable” comment during a telecast. He said he might put a “bullet in my head” if he had to deal with the COVID-19 restrictions the team had to operate under during the season. Foley apologized for the comment on-air shortly after making it.