Dan Kelly (sportscaster)

Dan Kelly
Kelly in the 1970s
Born
Patrick Daniel Kelly

(1936-09-17)September 17, 1936
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 10, 1989(1989-02-10) (aged 52)
Chesterfield, Missouri, United States
OccupationSportscaster
Years active1958–1989
Known forPlay by Play voice of the St. Louis Blues (1968-89)
Children6; Including John and Dan P.

Patrick Daniel Kelly (September 17, 1936 – February 10, 1989) was a Canadian-born sportscaster best known for his TV/radio play-by-play coverage of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, from 1968 until his death 21 years later, as well as for his national television work on NHL telecasts in both the United States and Canada.[1][2]

Broadcasting NHL games on national television

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In addition to his 21 seasons broadcasting the Blues, Kelly broadcast NHL games on national television in the United States and Canada for many years.[2] He broadcast 16 Stanley Cup Finals between 1969 and 1988, working for CBS, the NHL Network, the Hughes Television Network, the USA Network, CBC, CTV, and Global. In addition, he also called select games on ESPN[3][4] in 1985 and was the lead play-by-play announcer of the 1987 Canada Cup and at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, both for CTV.[5][6][7]

Memorable calls

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He was noted for his ability to project above the roaring crowds at the NHL arenas. He acknowledged that his booming call, "HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!" was patterned after that of the famous long-time NHL announcer Foster Hewitt.

Kelly called two of the most famous goals in hockey history. One was Bobby Orr's Cup-winning overtime goal in 1970:[8][9]

Bobby Orr... behind the net to Sanderson to OOOORR! BOBBY ORR! … scores, and the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup!

The other was Mario Lemieux's goal with 1:26 remaining in the decisive game 3 of 1987 Canada Cup:[10][11][12]

Hawerchuk wins it ahead, here's Lemieux poking it to center. Lemieux ahead to Gretzky, has Murphy with him on a 2-on-1. To Lemieux. In on goal. He shoots! HE SCORES!! Mario Lemieux, with 1:26 remaining!

He also called another Stanley Cup-winning goal for CBS as Bob Nystrom won the Cup for the Islanders in 1980:[13][14]

Islanders' number 10, Henning to Tonelli. Here's Tonelli with Nystrom. The pass to Nystrom – HE SCORES! BOB NYSTROM! And the New York Islanders have won the Stanley Cup!

He also called a Stanley Cup semifinal in 1971 at Chicago Stadium (nicknamed "The Madhouse on Madison"). When the Blackhawks scored an empty-netter to clinch the series, he yelled, "I can feel our broadcast booth shaking! That's the kind of place Chicago Stadium is right now!"[15][16]

Other sports broadcasting

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Besides hockey, Kelly also broadcast for NFL on CBS, as well as Missouri Tigers football, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and St. Louis Cardinals football for St. Louis radio station KMOX at different times in his career. He also broadcast the 1964 Grey Cup from Toronto along with Don Wittman and Bud Grant.

Death and honors

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Kelly died on February 10, 1989, from lung cancer.[6][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] His sons, John and Dan P., have been broadcasting NHL games for various NHL franchises, including the Blues, for whom John is currently doing the television play-by-play.[24]

Several months after his death, Kelly was the posthumous recipient of the Lester Patrick Trophy and the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.[25][26] In 2006, the St. Louis Blues dedicated the press box at the Enterprise Center in honor of him. In 2017, he was honored with the Missouri Broadcasters' Hall of Fame, and he was elected to the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame six years later.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ Caesar, Dan (February 10, 2019). "Media Views: Remembering Dan Kelly 30 years later".
  2. ^ a b Caesar, Dan (February 14, 2014). "Media Views: How Dan Kelly put the Blues on the map". STLtoday.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Sarni, Jim (October 10, 1985). "ESPN BREAKS THE ICE FOR SPORTS FANS WITH CAPS-RANGERS GAME THURSDAY". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (September 20, 1985). "Stockton, Walker Get a Break as Big Call Goes Their Way". Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dan Kelly". St. Louis Blues. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Horrigan, Kevin (February 10, 2024) [February 9, 2023]. "Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life'". STLtoday.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Staff, S. I. "Hockey's lord of the rinks". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Johnson, Drew (May 10, 2023). "Bobby Orr's Flying Goal". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Beneteau, Josh. "Remember When? Bobby Orr flies through air after winning Stanley Cup". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Pinchevsky, Tal. "Lemieux's Canada Cup winner remains historic". NHL.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Short, Robin (June 3, 2017). "Big goal in '87 came with an assist, albeit illegal one". Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via PressReader.
  12. ^ LeBrun, Pierre (May 8, 2020). "LeBrun: Gretzky and Lemieux on the best series ever – the '87 Canada Cup final". The Athletic. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. ^ Best, Neil (April 19, 2020). "Tim Ryan, Steve Albert called Isles games in first Stanley Cup season". Newsday. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Peter (January 17, 2023). "Schwartz: Islanders to honor Bobby Nystrom Wednesday on his Legends Night". www.audacy.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Fischler, Stan. "Chicago Stadium had perfect nickname, Fischler says". NHL.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Kagan, Richard (December 7, 2015). "Memories of "Madhouse on Madison Street": The Chicago Stadium". Fueled by Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Whitworth, Steve. "Broadcaster Dan Kelly, the voice of the St. Louis... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Lee, Brad (February 11, 2009). "Remembering Dan Kelly". St. Louis Game Time. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (February 10, 1989). "Hockey Announcer Dan Kelly Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (February 11, 1989). "Dan Kelly, Longtime Broadcaster of Hockey Games, Dies of Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Sarni, Jim (February 11, 1989). "VOICE OF BLUES IS STILLED". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dan Kelly, Hockey Announcer, 52". The New York Times. February 11, 1989. p. 33, Section 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  23. ^ "Dan Kelly Was Hockey's Voice". The New York Times. February 26, 1989. p. 9, Section 8. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Pinkert, Chris (May 26, 2019). "Kelly follows in father's footsteps, will call first Stanley Cup Final". NHL.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  25. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (October 9, 2009). Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. p. 425. ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6.
  26. ^ Fame, Hockey Hall of. "HHOF | Foster Hewitt Memorial Award Winners". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Pinkert, Chris (June 11, 2017). "Dan Kelly joins Missouri Broadcasters Hall of Fame". NHL.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "Late Dan Kelly elected to National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame". www.ballysports.com. January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by St. Louis Blues radio/television play-by-play announcer
1968-1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by American network television play-by-play announcer
1969-1972
1978-1980 (with Danny Gallivan, Chico Resch, and Dick Irvin Jr. in 1978; Kelly called the games in Boston and hosted games in Montreal; with Gallivan, Irvin, Gary Dornhoefer, Bobby Orr, and Gerry Pinder in 1979; with Bob Cole and Jim Robson for the first five games; with Tim Ryan for Game 6; Kelly called the first and third periods and overtime)
1982-1985 (with Al Albert in 1985; Kelly called the games in Philadelphia) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Canadian network television play-by-play announcer
1978-1980 (with Danny Gallivan, Chico Resch, and Dick Irvin Jr. in 1978; Kelly called the games in Boston and hosted games in Montreal; with Gallivan, Irvin, Gary Dornhoefer, Bobby Orr, and Gerry Pinder in 1979; with Bob Cole and Jim Robson for the first five games in 1980)
1985-1988 		Succeeded by
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