Former Chicago Blackhawks forward and current color commentator Eddie Olczyk announced some horrible news Tuesday when he revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of colon cancer.
Olczyk, 50, said in a statement through the team that he is currently undergoing treatment for the disease. Blackhawks team physician Michael Terry said in a separate statement that Olczyk underwent surgery to remove a tumor and will undergo treatments, including chemotherapy.
#Blackhawks release a medical update on Eddie Olczyk. pic.twitter.com/Ej0LUnjv5T
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 8, 2017
Olczyk’s lengthy NHL career was book-ended by two stints with the Blackhawks. He began his career with the Hawks for three seasons from 1984-87 before concluding his career in Chicago from 1998-2000. He tallied 209 total points and scored 77 goals during his five-year Hawks career.
Currently, Olczyk serves as the team’s primary color commentator opposite the great Pat Foley and also calls NBC’s national telecasts alongside Doc Emrick. He is originally from Chicago and attended Brother Rice High School.
