This one hurts.
I’ll admit, growing up in the southeast, I never watched much hockey. However, there was always one hockey personality that I loved watching every time I watched SportsCenter, and that’s Barry Melrose.
We’re talking about one of the most likable and charismatic personalities in all of the hockey world, and was and still is one of the good guys for the sport. Not to mention, he has one of the most recognizable appearances in all of hockey as well, as he’s always rocked the slick back mullet, ever since he got his NHL coaching start with the Los Angeles Kings.
With that being said, Melrose’s days with ESPN are officially coming to an end after 27 years, as he’s stepping away to focus on his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
His good friend John Buccigross made the announcement on X:
“Barry Melrose has Parkinson’s disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his.
I’ve worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a million bucks.
I love him. I’ll miss him. Wayne Gretzky on a life dedicated to hockey”
Talk about an incredible legacy. Needless to say, things just won’t be the same watching SportsCenter without Melrose’s presence.
And also, if you wanted to tear up on a Tuesday, here’s a tribute to the great Melrose himself. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Check it out:
