Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk said he has been diagnosed with colon cancer but hopes the disease won't keep him out of the broadcast booth for long.
Olczyk, 50, said in a statement the Hawks released Tuesday that he is undergoing treatment and is likely to miss the start of the season. He is also the analyst on NBC's national NHL broadcasts.
"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. "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. My family and I appreciate privacy during this time as we focus our attention on my treatments."
Hawks physician Michael Terry said in a statement that Olczyk recently had surgery to remove a tumor and will undergo chemotherapy to treat the cancer. Terry did not put a timetable on Olczyk's recovery but said: "We look forward to his return to good health after the completion of his treatment."
The Hawks did not announce any temporary plans to replace Olczyk in the booth alongside play-by-play broadcaster Pat Foley.
Because of his duties for the Hawks and NBC, Olczyk maintains a hectic travel schedule with dozens of flights each season while making time to see his sons play hockey. In recent years, Olczyk, who has a passion for horse racing, has also been a part of NBC's coverage of major races such as the Kentucky Derby.
NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood said Olczyk would not begin the season broadcasting games for the network alongside partners Mike "Doc" Emrick and Pierre McGuire.
"On behalf of everyone at NBC Sports, we wish Eddie and his family all the best as they cope with this health issue," Flood said. "Our top priority is for Edzo to get healthy, so he won't be joining us at the beginning of the season. We'll have information on how we'll staff those games soon. But most of all, we're looking forward to the day when Edzo comes off IR and rejoins Doc and Pierre to call the great game of hockey."
Olczyk has been the analyst on Hawks games since the 2006-07 season and has been NBC's lead analyst since 2007. Before his career in the booth, Olczyk was Sidney Crosby's first NHL head coach, serving parts of two seasons behind the bench for the Penguins after a decorated playing career that included two stints with the Hawks.
A Chicago native, Olczyk was the third pick in the 1984 entry draft and played in the NHL from 1984 through the 1999-2000 season. A forward, he played parts of five seasons with the Hawks and started and ended his career in Chicago. He also played for the Maple Leafs, Jets, Rangers, Kings and Penguins.
He tallied 342 goals and 452 assists in 1,031 NHL games. He became a Stanley Cup champion with the Rangers in 1994 and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
"Eddie Olczyk is a treasured member of the Chicago Blackhawks family and we will be supportive of him as he fights this disease," President John McDonough said. "We encourage our fans to keep him in their thoughts as we all look forward to having him back in good health as soon as possible."
