NBC Sports and TSN NHL analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 690 in Montreal that he has been diagnosed with stage one prostate cancer. The 56-year-old analyst underwent successful surgery to have his prostate removed.
It was also announced prior to Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild.
McGuire is not expected to return to television until NBC’s Olympic coverage starts in February. He will be on the main commentary team with Kenny Albert and Mike Milbury on the network’s men’s hockey coverage.
All the best to my longtime friend Pierre McGuire in his battle against prostate cancer: https://t.co/JVw2mvbVs9
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 11, 2018
Pierre McGuire and His Early Career
The Englewood, New Jersey native was a standout defenseman at NCAA Division III Hobart College. He played one season professionally in the Netherlands and tried out for the New Jersey Devils in 1984 before starting his college coaching career. McGuire moved up the ranks through Hobart, Babson and St. Lawrence University before landing his first pro job with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was the head coach of the Hartford Whalers for six months in the 1993 season where he was 23-37-7. He also served as the team’s general manager before getting fired on May 19, 1994. McGuire was a scout an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators and head coach with the ECHL’s Baton Rouge Kingfish in 1996.
McGuire’s Broadcasting Career
His coaching career would come to an end after became an analyst for CJAD’s broadcasts of Montreal Canadiens games in 1997. He worked on the English-language broadcasts until 2002 when he was hired full-time by TSN. McGuire became the lead analyst for the channel and was then hired by NBC Sports in 2006. He became the inside the glass reporter joining Mike Emrick and Ed Olczyk.
McGuire left TSN to join NBC full-time after the 2011 NHL Draft, but still appears on TSN Radio.
McGuire is famous for his knowledge of players backgrounds, but it’s those tangents that make him so lovable. It’s his encyclopedic memory that has made him a household name. He does have some detractors that think he favours certain teams. His praise for Sidney Crosby has also irritated some members of the viewing audience.
However, he’s very frank on his points of view in the world of hockey and is loved by players and coaches.
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