After more than 50 years as a sports broadcaster, Mike “Doc” Emrick is calling it a career. In an interview with the New York Post, Emrick. who has called many iconic NHL moments, revealed that he’s retiring from broadcasting.
“I hope I can handle retirement OK,” Emrick said. “especially since I’ve never done it before. But I’ve just been extremely lucky for 50 years. And NBC has been so good to me, especially since the pandemic, when I was allowed to work from home in a studio NBC created.
“Now, into my golden years, this just seemed to be the time that was right.”
The 74-year old began his broadcasting career in 1973 when he became the radio play-by-play voice of the Port Huron Flags in the International Hockey League. In addition, Emrick worked in the public relations department for the team in Michigan, which is where he lives today. Just four years later, Emrick joined the AHL’s Maine Mariners and called the franchise’s two Calder Cup championships in 1978 and 1979. He was nicknamed “Doc” after he’d earned a Ph.D in communications from Bowling Green in 1976.