Skip navigation

Mike Emrick

Lead NHL Play-by-Play Announcer

Image: Mike Emrick

In his 28th year of NHL play-by-play announcing, Mike Emrick is the lead play-by-play commentator for the NHL on NBC.

Emrick is widely considered to be the best hockey play-by-play voice on television and was honored for being such with an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.  He has been the voice of the New Jersey Devils since 1993, and has announced NHL games for all of the major television networks. Emrick is the recipient of several awards, including the 1997 National CableACE Award for best play-by-play, the 1997 and 2004 New York Emmy Awards for his Devils telecasts, and the 2004 Lester Patrick Trophy.  Emrick will also serve as lead play-by-play commentator for OLN’s telecasts of NHL coverage.

Emrick called water polo in Athens for his first Summer Games assignment and his first Olympics with NBC.  Emrick handled hockey play-by-play duties for CBS at Albertville in 1992 and on CBS and TNT at Lillehammer in 1994 and Nagano in 1998. 

The Washington Post rated the team of Emrick and Joe Micheletti as one of the top three Nagano announce teams during a review of the CBS/TNT coverage in 1998.  Emrick counts the gold medal game at the 1994 Winter Olympics – won by Sweden in a shootout over Canada – among his most memorable broadcasting assignments.

Emrick was the lead play-by-play voice of NHL games on Fox (1995-99) and ESPN (1986-88).  In recent years, Emrick has gained new fans as the voice of the popular “NHL Face-off” PlayStation games.  In 1999, he released “Off Mike,” a CD of audio essays on hockey gathered during his 12 years as writer/commentator of a daily radio series.   

Emrick began his broadcasting career in 1973 with the IHL's Port Huron Flags, where he also served as the team’s public relations director. He called more than 100 New York Rangers games on WNBC/WFAN Radio from 1983-88.  He was the TV voice of the Philadelphia Flyers from 1988-93 and went on to broadcast NFL games (1992-93), the World Luge Championships (1993), the FootLocker International Track Series (1994) and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (1995) for CBS Sports.

A member of the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee, Emrick has served as Vice President of the NHL Broadcaster's Association since 1985 and editor of the NHL Pronunciation Guide since 1982.  He earned his bachelor's degree in speech from Manchester College in 1968, a master's degree in radio/television from Miami University in Ohio in 1969 and a Doctorate in radio/television/film from Bowling Green State University in 1976, which earned him the nickname "Doc," as he's known to many of his fans. 

"Doc" and his wife, Joyce Ann, reside in St. Clair, Mich.


advertisement
Video
  Hall of Famer Emrick reflects
NHL on NBC broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick talks about what he's seen, and accomplished, in his career as a play-by-play man.
  More NHL on NBC bios
Pierre McGuire
Pierre McGuire is the “Inside the Glass” reporter for NBC’s network coverage of the NHL.
Eddie Olczyk
Former NHL player and coach Eddie Olczyk is the lead game analyst for the NHL on NBC.
Mike Milbury
Former NHL player, coach and GM Mike Milbury is the studio analyst for NBC’s NHL “Game of the Week.”
Video: NHL from NBC Sports
Los Angeles Kings v San Jose Sharks - Game Four
NHLI via Getty Images
Highlights: Sharks even series with Kings
The San Jose Sharks capitalized on their scoring chances in the first period and the early part of the second period in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. After falling behind by two goals, the Kings almost cut the lead in half in the second period, but the referee blew the play dead as the puck was about to cross the goal line. The series is now tied at two.

Slideshow
Image: Los Angeles Kings Parade and Rally
  Royal treatment
Check out photos from the Kings' Stanley Cup victory parade in LA.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
  Stanley Cup playoffs
Check out photos from the NHL postseason action.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Boston Bruins v Vancouver Canucks - Game Seven
  Stanley Cup winners
A look at the teams that have earned the right to hoist Lord Stanley's prize since 1965.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Celebrities At The LA Kings Game
  Celebrity fans
Some of Hollywood's hottest celebrities take in NHL games.
Slideshow
New Jersey Devils v Los Angeles Kings - Game Four
  Icy Hot
Check out the ice girls from around the National Hockey League.

more photos