Not many hockey voices in the broadcasting world are as well-known as Mike “Doc” Emrick. Sitting in NBC’s lead play-by-play slot for national NHL telecasts, Emrick has provided commentary on 14 Stanley Cup Finals over his long and storied career.
The La Fontaine, Indiana native entered the NHL more than 30 years ago with the New Jersey Devils and also enjoyed a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1980’s. He then went back to the Devils where he would spend over 20 consecutive seasons as the voice of the Garden State’s proud NHL organization before announcing that he would be broadcasting for NBC Sports exclusively in 2011.
Over the dozens of accolades he has received for the excellent coverage of the sport he desires extremely, perhaps the most significant honor was being selected as the winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in 2008.
I recently had the pleasure of asking Doc some questions regarding his tenure as a broadcaster, as well as some recent topics surrounding the National Hockey League.
Cristiano Simonetta: The career in which you are engulfed by obviously isn’t necessarily “work” to you due to your desire for it as well as the sport of hockey, but does it ever get repetitive or do you still to this day find novelty in the profession?
Mike Emrick: I do not find any bad days in this job. It is fun to find new things to share whether they are from a player, a coach, or research. There is a joy around the sport. The players have never wanted to do anything other what they are doing now, playing at the highest level possible and in the best arenas and masses of fans. I only tire of security lines and flights, nothing else.
CS: You’ve called 14 different Stanley Cup Finals on television, is there one that sticks out in your mind as the most marvelous?
ME: Five with FOX, nine with NBC, they are all thrills. The best final for competitiveness were Detroit-Pittsburgh twice (2008 and 2009) and Chicago-Boston (2013). The Hawks-Bruins was special in that we had only one blowout: two to nothing.
CS: Out of all the various accolades you’ve received, does being inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 mean more to you specifically because you were the first member of the media to be honored in that regard?
ME: All the honors are special in their own way; being with your family and co-workers is always special. In Toronto for the Hockey Hall of Fame, in Chicago for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, in New York for Lester Patrick. All three were with family AND co-workers, usually those paths don’t intersect. That makes them special along with two nights with the New Jersey Devils, family and the labor force in the same place and no game for at least 24 hours.
CS: The popularity of the NHL in California has certainly heightened as we’ve seen the Kings capture two titles in three years, how do you view the Golden State from a hockey standpoint?
ME: When I began in the NHL in 1980, you only went to Los Angeles and Vancouver and sometimes Edmonton and Calgary, that was the long trip. San Jose came in as a poor team athletically but they taught everyone marketing. The other teams learned a great deal from watching the Sharks lose games but win more and more fans. Anaheim got there later and after early struggles became credible. Now, there is nothing simple or easy about a California trip.
CS: Martin Brodeur recently hung up the skates after a brief stint with the St. Louis Blues, as you know. After working with the New Jersey Devils for 21 seasons, what impressed you the most about #30?
ME: His blend of skill and personality. He set almost every record but, unlike other goalies, was available before games. He remains the best I have ever seen, though I did not see [Terry] Sawchuk or [Glenn] Hall, except on TV.
CS: You, along with Ed Olczyk and Ray Ferraro, were selected to provide the broadcast commentary for EA Sports NHL 15. What was the process like in that scenario, attempting to provide raw enthusiasm and excitement in a studio instead of inside an NHL arena?
ME: The EA people are genius level. Whatever they or I or you can imagine, they can do. It’s a phenomenal test to work in a room with no action other than what they help you imagine. I hope people aren’t so busy with the playing that they miss the vendor with a tray of drinks who sits in the aisle or the only fan in the jersey of the visiting team who cheers a goal. This was fun for all of us, and soon we will begin work on NHL 16. It will be fun to hear what new wrinkles they have conjured up to make it better. Working with Eddie and Ray is hilarious, they are good guys who laugh a lot.
CS: What is the biggest piece of advice you can give to someone pursuing a career in sports broadcasting, particularly play-by-play?
ME: Don’t quit. In any performance business there are disappointments, believe in your God-given talents and work hard. Polite aggressiveness helps you progress. Just don’t quit.
I’d like to thank Mike “Doc” Emrick once again for taking the time out of his carousel of a work schedule to answer some of my questions.
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