FEATURE: Cangialosi on Emrick

My first face to face encounter with Mike Emrick happened on May 7, 1994. It was an off day from work, and taking a drive to Boston with the woman who would become my wife less than a year later, Mallory Prestlien, made for a perfect Saturday. We'd walk through Faneuil Hall, watch the Kentucky Derby at an Irish pub, then watch the Devils play Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Conference Semifinal Series versus the Bruins that night.
Stephane Richer's overtime goal tied the best-of-seven series at two games apiece that night, and I had never before been to Boston Garden. I knew this was probably my last chance since the doors would be shuttered permanently four months later. We sat in obstructed view seats and stayed until ushers told us it was time to vacate. As we walked to the concourse I made eye contact with someone who was there on business. I reintroduced myself to the man I had interviewed years earlier on the radio.
Emrick had been a guest of mine in 1987 on WNEW-AM 1130 (call letters long since retired) and I quickly recounted some of the very important topics of our last conversation: the NHL All-Star Game replaced by Rendezvous and the visiting Soviet Union, and Coach Ted Sator's success with the Sabres having been fired the previous season by the Rangers.
"Terrific interview," Emrick responded. "You can tell how prepared the host is by the types of questions that are asked." I wished him well and asked Mallory a question. "Do you think he really remembers a radio interview from seven years ago?"
"Yes I do," she said.

Our audio paths crossed again when I was anchoring for ESPN Radio in Bristol, Connecticut in 2000. Emrick by this time was recognized as an electrifying hockey presence and the game's foremost student, but for roughly a decade was bouncing between networks - from ESPN to Fox to ABC - largely a function of a fluctuation of national broadcast rights. I reminded him again of that interview in 1987. His opening line was "you do realize this is evidence that neither of us can hold a job?"
Of course, he held a job for 21 seasons that he dignified with attention to detail that most outside the business of sports television may have difficulty comprehending. As the voice of New Jersey Devils Hockey on SportsChannel, Fox Sports New York, and MSG Plus, it's always been difficult to verbalize what Doc's ability to narrate the most precious moments of a fan's life are worth. I know it's a responsibility I never take for granted today. I try to remind myself that there are fathers and sons, mothers, and daughters, watching these games together. The job means that you're in position to deliver great memories directly into their homes. That's important. Emrick is among those who taught me this.
I was overjoyed and fortunate to be selected to become part of the Devils' broadcast crew - and thus an Emrick colleague - in the fall of 2006. The night before our first telecast of the season in Carolina, our crew gathered for dinner and to informally discuss the storylines and challenges that we would encounter in the coming season. The effort that he made to include a rookie in the discussion was obvious. It was clear that Emrick valued input. A man who for half a century earned a living with his voice, valued listening more than speaking.
On the morning of October 6, 2006, my debut as host, we gathered outside of our Raleigh hotel to travel to the Devils' morning skate. Our Associate Director then and now, Larry Gaines, is a wonderful man, but quite gifted and inclined to "press your buttons". He said something to longtime Devils' Producer Roland Dratch, who from 30 feet away fired a half-full plastic bottle of Diet Coke, whizzing by Gaines' left ear. Everyone belly-laughed. This being my first day on the job, I thought to myself "What have I gotten myself into?"
I nervously navigated my way through the first segments of the pre-game show that night when Emrick must have asked for a clear line to my earpiece. "Wonderful debut, Steve," is what I think I heard.
It's hard to explain what such encouragement means to any functioning broadcaster when you are in the moment. A mentor of mine once said "Anyone can do live television. Until something goes wrong. And something goes wrong every 18 seconds. Be prepared to deal with it." A good word from Doc was a good omen for the rest of the night.
Emrick's retirement from the Devils' broadcast in 2011 was conveyed with a classy letter from play by play man to the fans directly. Mike had informed us of his decision to leave the broadcast weeks earlier but had asked us to keep it to ourselves. At this time in the team's history, beat writers Tom Gulitti of the Record and Rich Chere of the Star Ledger each posted daily blogs - each a valuable bevy of information including news of Doc's departure. Reading the comments section of one blog, the first fan posted 'NOOOOOOOOOO." The second posted "Just don't hire Cangialosi'. I laughed hard, but told my girlfriend at the time 'I'd better not read anymore."
A lot of fans ask if it's an impossible situation to follow in the footsteps of a broadcasting icon. I understand the question, but I wouldn't trade my time as Doc's colleague for an alternative path. When I was offered the job to succeed Emrick as the TV voice of the Devils, I told Lou Lamoriello that I understand the challenges of following a legend, but that I was more concerned about working with Chico Resch. For a decade and a half he had one partner. That's a big adjustment for him. Lou's response was terrific: "Don't worry about following a Hall of Famer. Don't worry about Chico. Do your job. The rest takes care of itself."
From a distance, it's been special to call Emrick a friend. He watches a lot of games, but I don't think he's missed a Devils' opening night telecast since working exclusively for NBC. He's texted me during each one for as long as I can remember. It's one reason I was so pumped for the Devils-Jets pulsating overtime that began the 2019-20 season. Having been widowed in 2005, I know that my personal well-being was always something in which Doc took more than tepid interest. His voicemails most often ended with 'my best to Donna if that's still applicable." It is. We were married in 2014.
Today, October 19, 2020, marks the 15th year of Mallory Cangialosi's passing at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I'll always be conflicted when I visit the old city, but easily reminded of my encounter a long time ago with a hockey lifer. His calls speak for themselves. Thank God for video archives.
And thanks for everything Doc. For what it's worth, Ted Sator got a raw deal from two teams.