Take Your Eye Off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey by Knowing Where to Look

Olczyk, Eddie

Triumph Books

Eddie Olczyk had built a life and career most people could only dream of. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, he fell in love with the game of hockey during an era when most kids preferred balls to pucks. Against all odds, he played on the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team as a 17-year-old, and four months later he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. During an illustrious 16-year career, he played for and alongside some of the greatest franchises and players in history, winning a Stanley Cup with the unforgettable 1994 New York Rangers. Years later, he coached former teammate Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby on the Pittsburgh Penguins before transitioning into the broadcast booth, where he has become one of the most recognizable voices of the sport. He then combined his skills as an analyst with his second passion— horse racing—and became an integral part of NBC’s coverage of thoroughbreds. Away from the spotlight, Olczyk and his wife of three decades raised four adoring children. He was respected and admired by fans, friends, and peers. Life was sweet. Then, at 7:07 pm on August 4, 2017, his entire world turned upside down. In Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life, one of the biggest names in American hockey has written an inspiring and entertaining memoir of his life both on and off the ice. From shooting hundreds of tennis balls at a goal in his childhood living room to the ups and downs of his improbable hockey career to rollicking stories from the booth and the backstretch, Olczyk guides readers on his journey toward his ultimate test: a battle against Stage 3 colon cancer. For years, Olczyk’s goal was to be the best husband, father, broadcaster, and handicapper he could be. Today he has a new one: to bring as much awareness and support to those fighting cancer as he possibly can. In this emotional but often hilarious autobiography, you’ll learn why the people who know Eddie Olczyk best might describe him as “tremendously tremendous.”

Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life

Biographies & Memoirs

Lefko, Perry

Regional U.S.

When Eddie Olczyk looks at his life, he can't believe how many times he's beaten the odds. At age sixteen, he was selected for the 1984 U.S. Olympic hockey team, and four months after the competition ended he was drafted in the first round by his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. He played alongside Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier and saw his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. He's brought hockey into American homes as one of the most recognizable voices of the sport, and he's even become a respected analyst in the world of horse racing, thanks to his talent as a bettor--Olczyk once won more than $500,000 picking the winners of six consecutive races while wagering only $168. But perhaps there is no greater example of Eddie O. beating the odds than in 2018 when he went into remission eight months after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. He will readily admit that this was the greatest victory of his life. This memoir is an honest and emotional account of everything Olczyk has experienced: the sacrifices his parents made so he could pursue a career in the NHL, the joy of playing for the Hawks, the mental and physical stress involved in the life of a professional athlete, the incredible moments he's called from the broadcast booth, and the profound lessons learned while battling cancer.

About the Author\nMike Emrick was an Emmy Award-winning television play-by-play commentator for NHL on NBC until his retirement in 2020. Kevin Allen spent 34 seasons as USA Today's hockey beat writer. He has written several books about hockey and co-authored books by Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Darren McCarty, and Stu Grimson.\nMillions of fans have enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm, insight, and storytelling on regular television broadcasts, through moments of triumph and defeat. Now, in this striking autobiography, the longtime broadcaster takes fans behind the mic as only he can. Emrick's love for hockey is obvious to anyone who's heard him call a game, and it's multi-layered. Tradition. The Stanley Cup chase. Suspense. Passion. Teamwork. History. Handshakes. An endless list. Yet it’s the people he treasures most of all, and Doc has more than his fair share of stories from countless interactions—more than he's even been able to tell during four decades in the broadcast booth. Through both his early life and his unparalleled career, readers will meet the full cast of characters who have made their mark on the man who's voice has defined the hockey experience for so many. Equal parts riveting and hilarious, this memoir gives fans a rare seat alongside Emrick and serves as a profound ode to the sport of hockey.

Off Mike: How a Kid from Basketball-Crazy Indiana Became America's NHL Voice

Allen, Kevin

Emrick, Mike

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