Pat Foley
Encyclopedia
Pat Foley is the television play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Blackhawks
of the National Hockey League
.
A native of Chicago's North Shore
, Foley graduated from Loyola Academy
and received a degree in telecommunications from Michigan State University
. He joined the Blackhawks' broadcasting crew at the age of 26 after calling games for the now-defunct Grand Rapids Owls
of the International Hockey League, and he quickly became recognized as the "Voice of the Blackhawks." In 1991, he won an Emmy Award
for Outstanding Achievement in a Live Sports Program, and in 2001, he was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
, joining such local legends as Jack Brickhouse
and Harry Caray
. From 1995 to 1998, he called NHL games on Fox-TV
.
In May 2006, the Blackhawks organization made the controversial decision to withdraw their contract offer to the popular Foley, citing unspecified "personal" reasons. The team also ended their simulcasts, replacing Foley on radio with former New York Islanders
broadcaster John Wiedeman
and on television with former Columbus Blue Jackets
voice, Dan Kelly, Jr.
.
On September 12, 2006, the Chicago Wolves
of the American Hockey League
named Foley their cable television play-by-play announcer for the 2006–07 season. The broadcasts were also simulcast over the internet, and on a radio station
available only in the arena. Foley teamed with Bill Gardner, who was once his partner on Blackhawks broadcasts.
On June 16, 2008, the Blackhawks announced Foley's return as their television play-by-play announcer. He is usually joined in the booth by analyst Ed Olczyk
. On occasions where Olczyk covers national telecasts for Versus
or NBC, studio analyst Steve Konroyd
provides color commentary.
Foley recorded a recreated call of Patrick Kane
's Stanley Cup
-winning overtime goal, which was played at the celebration of the Blackhawks' first Cup win in 49 years.
On December 30, 2010, it was announced that Foley and Olczyk signed a three-year extension to stay with the Blackhawks.
Foley was the announcer in Midway
's arcade game
2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge
.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
A native of Chicago's North Shore
North Shore (Chicago)
The North Shore is a term that refers to the generally affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois bordering the shore of Lake Michigan.- History :Europeans settled the area sparsely after an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans...
, Foley graduated from Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy is a private, co-educational college preparatory high school, located in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, it is one of 47 Jesuit high schools in the United States and is a member of the Jesuit Secondary Education...
and received a degree in telecommunications from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He joined the Blackhawks' broadcasting crew at the age of 26 after calling games for the now-defunct Grand Rapids Owls
Grand Rapids Owls
The Grand Rapids Owls are a defunct professional ice hockey team, who were members of the International Hockey League from the 1977–1978 season to 1979–1980 season. The Owls were based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and played their home games in Stadium Arena. The team started the 1977–1978 season as...
of the International Hockey League, and he quickly became recognized as the "Voice of the Blackhawks." In 1991, he won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Achievement in a Live Sports Program, and in 2001, he was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Hawthorne Race Course, in Stickney/Cicero, near Chicago, Illinois, honors sports greats associated with the greater Chicago area. It was founded in 1979 as a trailer owned by the Olympia Brewing Company parked at Soldier Field in Chicago. The...
, joining such local legends as Jack Brickhouse
Jack Brickhouse
John Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983...
and Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
. From 1995 to 1998, he called NHL games on Fox-TV
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
.
In May 2006, the Blackhawks organization made the controversial decision to withdraw their contract offer to the popular Foley, citing unspecified "personal" reasons. The team also ended their simulcasts, replacing Foley on radio with former New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
broadcaster John Wiedeman
John Wiedeman
John Wiedeman is an American broadcaster who currently serves as the radio play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks....
and on television with former Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
voice, Dan Kelly, Jr.
Dan Kelly, Jr.
Daniel Patrick Kelly is a sportscaster and is the son of legendary St. Louis Blues broadcaster Dan Kelly, the nephew of hockey and baseball broadcaster Hal Kelly and the younger brother of current St. Louis Blues TV broadcaster John Kelly. Dan is technically not a junior...
.
On September 12, 2006, the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
named Foley their cable television play-by-play announcer for the 2006–07 season. The broadcasts were also simulcast over the internet, and on a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
available only in the arena. Foley teamed with Bill Gardner, who was once his partner on Blackhawks broadcasts.
On June 16, 2008, the Blackhawks announced Foley's return as their television play-by-play announcer. He is usually joined in the booth by analyst Ed Olczyk
Ed Olczyk
Edward Walter "Eddie" Olczyk is an American former head coach for the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins and former center for Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins...
. On occasions where Olczyk covers national telecasts for Versus
NHL on Versus
The NHL on Versus was the former branding used for National Hockey League games broadcast on Versus. Versus became the NHL's cable partner in the United States beginning in the 2005-06 season from previous partner ESPN, providing coverage of regular season games, playoff games, and select games...
or NBC, studio analyst Steve Konroyd
Steve Konroyd
Stephen Mark Konroyd is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman. He currently is a co-host of intermission and post-game segments on WGN-TV and Comcast SportsNet broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks' games.-Playing career:...
provides color commentary.
Foley recorded a recreated call of Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane
Patrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
's Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
-winning overtime goal, which was played at the celebration of the Blackhawks' first Cup win in 49 years.
On December 30, 2010, it was announced that Foley and Olczyk signed a three-year extension to stay with the Blackhawks.
Foley was the announcer in Midway
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
's arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge
2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge
2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge is an ice hockey arcade game released by Midway in 1995. It was ported to PlayStation in 1996. The game would be similar to its arcade counterpart with exception to the fact that the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix after the conclusion of the 1995-96 season, thus the...
.