Chico Resch Belongs in the New Jersey Devils’ Ring of Honor

After only having one member in the New Jersey Devils’ Ring of Honor for nearly a decade, the number of members doubled during last season when the franchise inducted former player and current assistant coach Sergei Brylin to join the original member of the RoH - Dr. John McMullen. Whaddya say we keep that momentum going in the upcoming season and make this an annual thing, Devils? If, in some alternate universe (yes, there is a multiverse!), the team asked me who my choice would be, there would be no hesitation for me - despite the oodles of worthy candidates. Glenn ‘Chico’ Resch.

The Ring of Honor is for those who had an immense impact on the franchise, or maybe a way of honoring those members without requiring a number being raised to the rafters. Resch was the first-ever goaltender for the New Jersey Devils following their relocation from Colorado, and while he didn’t win many games over his four seasons in New Jersey (198 games total), he was a good soldier and always competed his heart out, which endeared him to fans.

I was too young to remember those days, and the game was not as easily accessible as it is nowadays. But my memories of ‘Chico’ are from his broadcasting days - 18 years as the color analyst on Devils’ television broadcasts, and after a three-year hiatus, he has been heard on the team’s radio broadcasts since 2017. I grew up listening to him and the great Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick. Their unique ability to make a crazy fast game both easy to digest and entertaining for a somewhat new fan was remarkable to me. And Chico’s goofiness always reminded me of a loving and joking grandparent.

To say it was surreal that I got to meet and know both Doc & Chico as an intern for the great Stan Fischler (put him in the Hockey Hall of Fame!) would be a great understatement. The best thing about Chico, to me - and Doc for that matter - is they are both kind and humble humans. Zero ego. They take the time to get to know you and care, as they showed me a month after my father had passed away in the spring of 2003. The dynamic duo pulled me aside in the hallway outside of their network’s studio and asked me how I and my family were doing, was there anything they could do to ease my pain, and how glad they were to see me after hearing what I had been through.

The great Ken Daneyko is rightfully nicknamed Mr. Devil, but Resch could also share that title. Some may call him a homer if you’ve heard him on a television broadcast, or nowadays a radio broadcast. (Find me a local broadcast that isn’t). But all these years later, he is still as passionate about the franchise as he was during his playing days, maybe even more so. The more I think about it, the more I think he should’ve been the second member of the RoH - no disrespect to Sarge Brylin - just as a chronological thing. Obviously Dr. McMullen brought the franchise to the Garden State, and Chico was their first star or face of the franchise. 

Honestly, I feel fortunate that I grew up when I did, and got to hear him (and Doc) call games. I may not have become as invested in the sport, team, and league without them. And yes, I think Emrick should also be an inductee one day, perhaps they should even be inducted by the Devils together. But Chico was a Day 1 Devil. 

There are so many, many worthy candidates for the Devils’ Ring of Honor besides Chico and Doc - Lou Lamoriello, Jacques Lemaire, Kirk Muller, John MacLean, Bruce Driver, Randy McKay, Larry Robinson, John Madden, Brian Rafalski, Jay Pandolfo, Pat Burns, Brian Gionta, and probably someone else I’ve forgotten. Who do you think should be next? Who did I leave off my list that you think belongs?