Former Blackhawk Eddie Olczyk says he is cancer-free
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
CHICAGO (AP) - Former NHL forward and coach Eddie Olczyk is cancer-free after months of treatment.
The 51-year-old Olczyk made the announcement during the first intermission of Thursday night's Canucks-Blackhawks game. Olczyk is a color analyst for TV broadcasts for the Blackhawks and NBC Sports.
"All the cancer is gone," he said. "We beat this thing, and I say we because it has been a team effort."
Olczyk was diagnosed with colon cancer last summer. He said he was told on March 14 that his scans were clear.
Olczyk was selected by Chicago with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1984 draft. He played for six teams during his 16 seasons in the NHL, helping the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994. He finished with 342 goals and 452 assists in 1,031 games.
The Chicago native also coached the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2003-04 season and part of the 2005-06 season.