Hockey Announcer Dan Kelly Dies

Dan Kelly, the voice of the St. Louis Blues since 1968 and widely regarded as one of the best hockey announcers in the world, died today of cancer. He was 52.

Kelly had been out of the broadcast booth since an examination for back problems led to the discovery of his illness late last year. He had not worked since a Blues’ loss at home to Vancouver on Nov. 19.

Kelly died early this morning at his home, Blues publicist Susie Mathieu said. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Kelly was known for his distinctive call, “He shoots . . . he scores,” a phrase that he had actually borrowed from veteran Foster Hewitt.

He was one of three men to be honored in December with the 1989 Lester Patrick Award, given annually by the NHL and New York Rangers for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Kelly will be inducted into the broadcasting wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame in September.

“All of us in the hockey world are saddened to lose a dear friend such as Dan,” NHL President John Ziegler said in a prepared statement. “During the past two decades the game has known no better good-will ambassador.

“Many of today’s hockey fans across Canada and the United States have learned the game through Dan’s vivid and exciting play-by-play calls over the airwaves.”

A profile in Sports Illustrated a few years ago said Kelly dominated his sport like no other announcer.

“There’s the stout Irishman, and then there’s the rest of the hockey announcing universe,” said the article, written by Sports Illustrated media critic William Taaffe. “Kelly is the purest, most knowledgeable, most accurate voice around.”

Blues captain Bernie Federko was among Kelly’s best friends. Federko said today that Kelly was “the best, no question.”

“It’s hard to talk about him in the past tense now,” Federko said. “He was a big part of the St. Louis Blues, and we’re really going to miss him. He made the game so exciting all of the time and he had a great voice. When he was announcing, you felt that you were right there.”

Kelly is survived by his wife, Fran, and six children. His son John has been working as a broadcaster for Madison Square Garden Network doing play-by-play for the New York Rangers.