Doc Emrick’s Top 5 Calls For New Jersey Devils Hockey
Yesterday, the hockey world said goodbye to one of the sport’s greatest play-by-play announcers ever. Mike “Doc” Emrick announced his retirement after 50 years of covering the NHL. He spent 18 – 21 of those years with the New Jersey Devils. Throughout the years, he made a major impact in the hockey community. He revolutionized play-by-play announcing through is energetic and high-paced voice. Whenever his voice was heard during a game, it made everyone know that they were in for a treat. He made every single game exciting and emotional. His devotion to the sport went beyond the ice by generating close relationships with the players, coaches and create heart warming stories about the players or employees at the arena.
To show my appreciation for Doc’s contributions to the Devils and the rest of the hockey community, I created a list of my Top-5 favorite calls Doc made when he was with the New Jersey Devils.
#5 Neal Broten‘s OT Goal vs The Penguins: Game 4 of the 1995 ECSF
Despite not being alive when the Devils won the cup in 1995, I am well aware that they did and how they accomplished the feat. They were the underdog for the entire playoffs and they ended up having a playoff record of 16-4.
This goal call by Doc was an amazing one. He did a outstanding job building up the play when John MacLean rushed the puck past the blue line, skated behind the net and delivered a great pass across the slot to a wide open Neal Broten who knocked it to the back of the net.
Not only did Doc’s voice make this call a one to remember, the excitement from the crowd, the celebration of the players, and the situation itself made this bring you joy and jump off the edge of your seat. The Devils and the Penguins were playing hard and physical in this game. There was a lot on the line as well. The Devils were winning the series 2-1 and a win by either team in this team could swing momentum heavily into their favor. This goal allowed the Devils to have chance of eliminating the stacked Penguins teams in five games. So when this goal was scored, an eruption of excitement came on New Jersey’s end and it led to a remarkable goal call by Doc.