Around New England

Boston Bruins Play-By-Play Broadcaster Jack Edwards Says Good Night

May 3, 2024

Longtime Boston Bruins play-by-play broadcaster Jack Edwards called his last game Thursday night.

Edwards, 67, is retiring because of an undiagnosed speech problem that causes him to slur words. His last call was Game 6 of the first round playoff series between the Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, which the Bruins lost, 2-1.

While the series concludes with Game 7 on Saturday night, that game will be broadcast nationally, and not on NESN, the regional sports network that Edwards works for.

Game 5 on Tuesday, April 30 was Edwards’s last call of a Bruins home game at TD Garden in Boston.

During the postgame review of Game 5 on Tuesday, Edwards said to his partner, color analyst Andy Brickey:

“This is our last time in the booth, after 19 years. And I want to thank you for staying by my side, especially this season, when I have had a speech problem. You don’t find out who the best teammates are when champagne is dripping off your ceiling. You find out who the best teammates are when the times are tough, and you are the best teammate I’ve ever had.”

Brickley praised Edwards for what he called “Your ability to call a game, your expertise, you know, to guide the viewer and the fan through that rollercoaster of emotions throughout the course of the game.”

“And I had the best seat in the house. I was standing there right beside you, shoulder to shoulder,” Brickley said.

During the postgame review after Game 6 on Thursday, May 2, Edwards said, with some difficulty:

 

For the past 19 years to witness and describe some of the greatest moments in the New England sports pantheon – I can’t talk –.has been the thrill of a lifetime. And I want to thank every employee at NESN, especially our production team of Brian Zechello, Rose Mirakian-Wheeler, Patrick White, and all the photographers, represented on this trip by Bobby Swan.

Most of all, I want to thank my broadcast partner, Andy Brickley. You’re the brother I never had until I started working with you. It’s been a joyride for 19 years and this my goodbye.

 

Brickley said:

 

I have four brothers, but now I have five. Absolutely pleasure working with you, Jack. Great call again tonight. Tremendous finish. It would have been storybook had they won a Game 5 at home, go out in that fashion for you personally. And given the situation with this series, it might have been even more storybook had we been able to broadcast Game 7.

 

Edwards ended by saying:

 

So long everybody. Long live the Boston Bruins.

 

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