Bruins announcer Jack Edwards receives an award before the last regular-season game. Earlier in the day, Edwards, who grew up in Durham and graduated from UNH, announced his retirement. Thursday night was his last broadcast.
Bruins announcer Jack Edwards receives an award before the last regular-season game. Earlier in the day, Edwards, who grew up in Durham and graduated from UNH, announced his retirement. Thursday night was his last broadcast.
BOSTON — Longtime Bruins announcer Jack Edwards announced on Tuesday that he plans to retire at the end of the season.
Edwards has called Bruins hockey on NESN for 19 seasons. Before NESN, he did both play-by-play and SportsCenter work on ESPN and ABC, and had been an anchor locally on Boston and Providence TV stations.
Edwards, who grew up in Durham and graduated from UNH, was to be honored before the Bruins’ regular-season finale against Ottawa on Tuesday night. He’ll call games during Boston’s first-round playoff series before all NHL playoff games go to national broadcasts.
Edwards, 67, revealed earlier this year that he had an undiagnosed ailment that led to slurring and slowing of his speech despite the fact that he was still mentally sharp. He acknowledged that in his retirement statement issued by the Bruins.
“I grew up a Bruins fan, and who had more fun than us over the last two decades?” Edwards said. “In collaboration with Bruins and NESN leadership, I recently decided that the time has come for me to finish my shift as the voice of the Boston Bruins. I am no longer able to attain the standards I set for myself, to honor the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN with the best they all deserve.”
“I retire from broadcasting not with a heavy heart, but gratefulness for a 19-year-long joyride,” Edwards continued. “I owe my career, my own pursuit of happiness, to the love and support of my family. I thank every member of the Bruins and NESN for your loyalty, helping me to achieve and live out a lifetime goal, high above the ice.”
His announcement came two days after the Celtics honored Mike Gorman before his last regular-season game and a day after longtime Yankees radio announcer John Sterling, 85, announced his retirement.
“Hey congratulations to Jack Edwards on a tremendous career,” said Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.
“I’m personally disappointed that he’s retiring, but really happy for him and he’s a Bruins icon and a big part of the Black and Gold’s tradition with what he’s done over a tremendous career,” Montgomery added.
Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs thanked Edwards for his contributions.
“I join the Bruins organization, NESN and hockey fans everywhere in congratulating Jack on an incredible career,” Jacobs said. “Jack’s voice has been the soundtrack for generations of Bruins fans that have experienced so many incredible moments. His presence has been felt around the globe and he will forever be a part of the Bruins legacy.”
NESN President and CEO Sean McGrail did the same. His network plans a national search for a replacement.
“Congratulations to Jack on a remarkable career of calling Boston Bruins hockey on NESN,” said McGrail. “Jack brought a distinctive and colorful personality to our broadcast that was unmistakably his own. I’d like to join everyone at NESN in thanking Jack for his contributions over the past 19 years.”
