Thank you, Doc

The GOAT has called it a career.

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All good things come to an end.

Today we were given a somewhat unexpected reminder as Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick retired from the broadcast booth.

While it does come as a bit of a surprise, I suppose it really shouldn’t. Emrick has given hockey fans nearly 50 great years of calls and is getting up there in age.

Front Office Sports @frntofficesport

Doc Emrick is retiring, per the @nypost. ➖ 47 years covering professional hockey ➖ Called more than 3,750 games ➖ Worked 22 Stanley Cup Finals series, 19 NHL Winter Classic and Stadium Series games, 14 NHL All-Star Games, and was part of six Olympic Winter Games.

He is 74 now. It’s probably best for him to step back and take it easy; especially when the alternative is travelling around North America to call games during a global pandemic. That’s a big ask of anybody, let alone somebody of Doc’s age.

This news will no doubt touch a lot of people. It certainly saddens me. I’m only 26 but I grew up listening to Doc call New Jersey Devils games.

They were easily my favorite sports team – I honestly lived for them – and not only did I have the luxury of watching them make the playoffs, and contend, year after year, but I was able to listen to Doc’s infectious voice through it all.

From all the great calls in big moments, to the way he made you feel like a friend at home, to the amusement he provided by telling us a puck was catawampused into the corner, Doc always made games so enjoyable.

I will be forever grateful for everything he gave – especially to Devils fans – over the years. I have no doubt many of you feel the same way, if not more so, having had Doc be a part of your life for so long.

Thanks for all wonderful the memories. There were too many to count but I’ll leave you all with my favorite.