Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Enjoy Your Retirement Glenn "Chico" Resch

04/11/2014 at 8:40pm EDT

from Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice,

Devils television color analyst Glenn “Chico” Resch announced during tonight’s telecast on MSG Plus that he will be retiring at the end of this season....

Resch, 65, spoke before tonight’s game about the reasons for him deciding to retire now.

“It’s 18 years and a couple of things,” Resch said.

One reason was so his wife, Diane, could be closer to her sister at home in Minnesota.

“And, then, you know, I guess I probably don’t want to overstay my welcome,” Resch said. “I do appreciate my legacy, but I also know there’s a whole younger generation. They didn’t know me. They can kind of identify when their dad tells them. I think a more current player – and the Devils certainly have won enough of those who have won championships – would probably be a little more pertinent to the broadcast. That was kind of what I was thinking. It would probably make the broadcast a little better. I think it would make it more current, more recent stories.”

read on

added 8:42pm, NJ Devils press release is below...

New York, NY (April 11, 2014) – MSG Networks hockey analyst Glenn “Chico” Resch announced his retirement from the New Jersey Devils broadcast booth during tonight’s Devils-Islanders telecast on MSG+. Sunday’s Devils-Bruins matchup at 3:00 p.m. on MSG will be his final hockey telecast on MSG Networks.

Resch will join Al Trautwig, E.J. Hradek, Ken Daneyko and Ron Duguay on “Hockey Night Live” Saturday at 9:30 p.m. to talk about his career on the ice and in the broadcast booth. He will then say goodbye to fans in a special postgame segment following Sunday’s game. The Devils will recognize their television analyst of 18 years during the first period of Sunday’s contest.

“I never thought of this as a profession because at the end of the day I’m talking about hockey, a sport that I love and have a tremendous amount of respect for,” said Resch. “That’s why I’ve always had a special relationship with the people watching on TV and cheering in the arena – I’m an extension of them. I’ve been lucky to do this for 18 years and I’ve enjoyed every handshake and conversation I’ve ever had with Devils fans.”

“I’d like to thank MSG Networks, especially the Devils production team and my broadcast partners, for their friendship and dedication over the years,” continued Resch. “And thank you to the Devils for the many memories both on the ice and in the booth.”

Resch joined MSG Networks in 1996 and was paired with Devils play-by-play legend Mike “Doc” Emrick for 14 years. For the past three seasons, Resch has called games alongside play-by-play partner Steve Cangialosi.

"From the first day I met Chico in 1983 when he was the Devils’ goalie, I was like everyone else who crossed his path, especially Devils fans – I felt welcomed, I felt like I had a friend, and I knew I was not around a dull person,” said Emrick. "I will always remember watching so many great Devils performances together. I felt like we were broadcasting in Camelot. I imagine him getting back to Minnesota next week, hitting an antique store and then heading to the shack to ice fish, something he will probably be able to do up there until mid-May. I am very happy for Chico and his family.”

"Few people in the National Hockey League have been more giving of their time to the fans than Chico,” said Cangialosi. “It's not uncommon to see him talking strategy with ticket holders an hour after the game. His energy and enthusiasm have been an inspiration to me."

“Area hockey fans have had the opportunity to enjoy Chico’s work as a player and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, as he’s had an exquisite career both on and off the ice,” said Daniel Ronayne, general manager and executive vice president, MSG Networks. “We certainly will miss his spirit and hockey analysis, and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life. Chico will always be a part of the MSG Networks family.”

“Chico Resch was a fan favorite during his 22 seasons with the Devils’ organization, first as a player, and more recently as a broadcaster,” said Devils’ President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. “He was an original Devil who brought a smile to the rink every day. Chico and his wife, Diane, will always be a part of the Devils’ family.”

A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, Resch began a 14-year National Hockey League career in 1973 with the New York Islanders. He appeared in 571 NHL games as a goaltender with the Islanders, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. Resch compiled a career record of 231-224-82 along with 26 shutouts and a 3.27 goals-against average, and won the Stanley Cup as a member of the 1979-80 Islanders.

Resch played in 282 games with the Islanders, allowing a club-low 2.56 goals per game. He tallied 25 shutouts for the team, the most in franchise history, en route to a 157-69-47 record. He was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team twice – in 1975-76 and 1978-79 – and was the recipient of the 1981-82 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

In March of 1981 Resch was traded to the Colorado Rockies only to return to the tri-state area the following season when the franchise moved east and became the New Jersey Devils. He was immediately embraced by the Meadowlands crowd and enjoyed a successful career in the Garden State. In 1986 he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and in 1987 he retired from professional hockey.

Resch served as goaltending coach for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1987-88 season before embarking on a broadcasting career with the Minnesota North Stars. In 1990 he returned to the coaching ranks, serving as goaltending coach and scout for the North Stars. The following year he became the general manager and coach of the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. From 1992-96 Resch worked in the Ottawa Senators organization as a goaltending coach and scout, which included time as a bench coach during the 1995-96 campaign. He returned to broadcasting permanently in 1996 when he joined MSG Networks.

Before embarking on his NHL career, Resch attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he played two seasons for the Bulldogs. He was given the nickname “Chico” by former Islanders teammate Doug Rombough, who chided Resch as he attempted to learn to speak Spanish during his first year with the team. The reference is to the television show “Chico and the Man.”

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