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Legendary Voice of Blackhawks Pat Foley Comes Out of Retirement And Returns to Chicago

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Joshua Deeds
December 11, 2024 (5:26 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks faithful will be in for a treat at the Winter Classic, as Pat Foley returns to call the event.

This is great news, as history hasn't been kind to one of the Chicago Blackhawks' best commentators to do it. As a local commentator, he wasn't able to call major events during the Blackhawks dynasty and fans would miss out on such great playcalling, after his retirement.

He laments the fact, that he never got to call games like the Stanley Cup, as National TV took over the broadcast.

Marquee weekend game? National TV swooped in to take it. The playoffs? Same. Stanley Cup Final? Of course.

«There's no question, local guys (miss out), if you're not the network guy,» Foley said by phone recently.

Foley missed out on calling the Winter Classic in 2009 at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field in 2014, Nationals Park in 2015, TCF Bank in 2016, Busch Stadium in 2017, and Notre Dame in 2019.

He'd not get a chance to call a national game at least until 2023, in Fenway Park.

Now during the 2025 Winter Classic, with Connor Bedard leading the Blackhawks, the now-retired Foley will get his shot to call a major event for the team.

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While he did decide to step away from Blackhawks games in 2022, he never stopped his career in sports announcing.

But since Foley stepped away from calling Blackhawks games in 2022, he's gotten more of those national opportunities. He called the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park for Sports USA, which broadcasts NHL and NFL games on the radio. This year, he did both Stadium Series games at MetLife Stadium for Sports USA.

Foley was tapped by Sports USA and will be a familiar voice for NHL fans, and Blackhawks fans who miss his presence over the mic.

«I'm excited about it,» said Foley, who will turn 70 this month. «It's a big event. With that sort of marquee billboard attached to it, I'm looking forward to it. The setting's unbelievable. The rivalry is there. Hoping to work with Chaser (Kelly Chase). He's a great guy. That would be a fun broadcast to do.

«You know what I'm about. I live for fun. That's what we do. We work in the toy department, so I want to make broadcasting fun.»

Foley has been a mainstay in the Blackhawks booth from 1980 to 2006 and would return to the same position from 2008 until retirement in 2022.

His name has become synonymous with Chicago sports as he was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and would be inducted into the HHOF in 2014.

He may be 70 years old, but the passion still feeds his fire to call hockey games. We've been blessed with his presence on the mic this year, and Foley will bring back a familiar status quo we know and love with the Hawks.

The Blackhawks have a record of 1-5-0 in outdoor contests, and maybe with Foley behind them, they can pull this off against Jim Montgomery and the St. Louis Blues.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Blackhawks' Former 1st-round pick Shows Improvement in First NHL Game of the season

Detroit's Patrick Kane Shows Off Incredible Warmup Routine Before Red Wings vs Avalanche

Blackhawks Youth Movement Has Begun As Star Prospect Called Up by Anders Sorensen Per Report

POLL
DECEMBRE 11 \| 294 ANSWERS Legendary Voice of Blackhawks Pat Foley Comes Out of Retirement And Returns to Chicago Are you excited knowing that Broadcaster Pat Foley will call the Chicago Blackhawks game at the 2025 Winter Classic?
Yes	281	95.6 %
No	13	4.4 %
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Legendary Voice of Blackhawks Pat Foley Comes Out of Retirement And Returns to Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks faithful will be in for a treat at the Winter Classic, as Pat Foley returns to call the event.

Are you excited knowing that Broadcaster Pat Foley will call the Chicago Blackhawks game at the 2025 Winter Classic?