Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk, one of the best and most respected tandems in broadcasting, were signed to three-year contract extensions on Thursday.
Foley's and Olczyk's credentials speak for themselves. They have a combined 38 years of experience in the Hawks organization.
"[Thursday] is a proud moment for us as an organization to extend Pat and Eddie through the 2013-14 season," Hawks executive vice president Jay Blunk said. "Blackhawks fans connect in a very special way with each and every broadcast, helping to advance our brand throughout the Midwest. We are fortunate to have one of the premier broadcast tandems in all of professional sports."
With Foley and Olczyk in the booth together since 2008-09, household ratings for Hawks games on Comcast have increased more than 130 percent while games on WGN have increased by more than 85 percent.
Foley, a Loyola Academy graduate, is in his 28th year with the Hawks, winning multiple awards while becoming the most recognized voice of the franchise.
Olczyk, a Niles native, was taken with the third overall pick by the Hawks in 1984. He is 16-year NHL veteran and former coach. Olczyk, who scored 342 goals in his regular-season career, is also the lead analyst for NBC and Versus.
The duo won the 2009 Midwest Emmy Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Play-by-Play."
If Foley is so great, why he is rarely if ever, mentioned along with the Greats of Hockey Broadcasting? Year after year he never makes the list of the best of the present, or past? I think the guy is slipping badly since returning to the Hawks from the Wolves and its Eddie O who is the real Star and Expert of this Team. Foley aint bad, but greatness is not to be found in his resume. Plus, he's a real sour puss off the ice and among the fans---he's got the personality of a wet rag and keeps a distance between himself and the fans--he's a weirdo. When the light goes on, he's a Johnny Carson, does fine--but please, save the greatness accoldades. Most of us at home are calling the play, the player, the penalty or the goal before he does---slipping I tell you. I dont let familiarity or nostalgia determine if i think someone is great or not...Foley is good, but no candidate for greatness.
Was Jack Skille a healthy scratch last night? If so why - John Scott & Jordan Hendry?