The Chicago Blackhawks announced today on the team’s official Twitter account that next season will be Pat Foley’s last with the team. The Chicago Blackhawks play-by-play announcer Pat Foley will call it a career after the 2021-2022 season. This will be his 39th with the organization. Pat Foley is synonymous with the Chicago Blackhawks, and it came as a surprise to the announcement of his retirement.
Calling Blackhawks Games
Pat Foley began calling games for the Chicago Blackhawks back in the 1981 season. That year, the team finished 4th in the Norris Division with a record of 30-38-12. Former Blackhawks defenseman Keith Magnuson, whose number 3 is retired by the team, was the head coach for 52 games that season. Magnuson was fired before the season’s end.
Foley has seen three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015) over his career. He has a career that saw him make calls for players like Denis Savard, Jeremy Roenick, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and many others. Back in 2006, he was let go by the organization based on a “rift between him and management”. That lead to Foley calling games for the Chicago Wolves back in 2006/07, and 2007/08 seasons before returning to the Blackhawks. Upon his return, he was paired up with former Chicago Blackhawks’ 3rd overall pick Eddie Olczyk in the 2008 season. The two have been calling Blackhawks games since then.
Pat Foley was inducted into the Chicagoland Hall of Fame back in 2002. He was then inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. Former Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough said that Foley is “synonymous with Blackhawks hockey [with a voice that] resonates loudly to our entire fan base.” Which if you ask any Blackhawks fan, they can recall many great Blackhawks goals/clips that Foley has made memorable with his calls.
One Last Ride
However 2021/22 plays out, Blackhawks fans will cherish one last ride with the voice of the team in Foley. The Chicago Blackhawks will honor Foley all season as a farewell tour for the long-time play-by-play announcer. As of right now, no one knows who will replace Foley. One this is for sure, that person will have some huge shoes to fill. Foley will be missed once the season is over. But, he will forever be cherished as the voice of the Blackhawks.
Thank You Pat
2021/22 will be one to remember for Chicago Blackhawks fans. Thank you Pat Foley for the memories.
My name is Zach Martin, and I am the Chicago Blackhawks beat writer for Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Hockey Follow me on Twitter for the most up-to-date Blackhawks content and news (twitter.com/CLEZach). I’m a co-host on a hockey podcast, Cannons & Tomahawks, that talks about all things NHL.
