Sports
Longtime Boston Bruins Announcer Jack Edwards To Retire After NHL Playoffs
Edwards, who has dealt with speech struggles throughout his 19th season, called his two decades calling Boston Bruins games his "dream job."
!["I am no longer able to attain the standards I set for myself to honor the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN with the best they deserve." - retiring Boston Bruins play-by-play TV announcer Jack Edwards](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/23254324/20240416/052818/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-650158813___16171515022.jpg)
BOSTON — Jack Edwards, a New England broadcasting fixture who spent the last 19 years as the NESN play-by-play commentator for Boston Bruins games, will retire at the end of the upcoming playoffs following a season in which he struggled with noticeable speech constraints.
Edwards called the Boston Bruins play-by-play spot his "dream job" and repeated his familiar refrain "Who had more fun with us over the last two decades?" in announcing through a team statement that he recently determined "I am no longer able to attain the standards I set for myself to honor the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN with the best they deserve."
"I retire from broadcasting not with a heavy heart, but gratefulness for a 19-year-long joyride," he said. "I owe my career, my own pursuit of happiness, to the love and support of my family. I thank every member of the Bruins and NESN for your loyalty, helping me to achieve and live out a lifetime goal, high above the ice."
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Edwards worked for WMUR-TV, WCVB-TV, WHDH-TV, ESPN's SportsCenter, and ABC's Wild World of Sports before joining the Bruins as the play-by-play man in 2005.
The University of New Hampshire alumnus also did a play-by-play for ESPN's coverage of
hockey and soccer, including the 2002 World Cup finals, and the Little League World Series.
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"I join the Bruins organization, NESN and hockey fans everywhere in congratulating Jack on an incredible career," said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs in a team statement. "Jack's voice has been the soundtrack for generations of Bruins fans who have experienced so many incredible moments. His presence has been felt around the globe and he will forever be a part of the Bruins legacy."
Edwards will call games for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, including Tuesday night's regular-season finale at TD Garden and upcoming playoff games that appear on the regional broadcast network.
The Boston Bruins and NESN said they will conduct a nationwide search for the next play-by-play voice to join color commentator Andy Brickley for the 2024-25 season.
The Bruins and NESN plan to further celebrate Edwards and his impact during the 2024-25 regular season with more details on those plans to be shared at a later date.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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