"Hawks Win!" Pat Foley's Greatest Calls From His Hall of Fame Career

The Alexander Karpovtsev Rant:

In Pat Foley's entire career as the Blackhawks broadcaster, he rarely called out any of the Hawks players if they had a bad game or even a couple of games. The key word is almost. Unfortunately for Alexander Karpovtsev, Pat Foley went on a two-minute rant slandering him as a "disgrace to the Blackhawks uniform".

Alexander Karpovtsev was a defenseman for the Blackhawks from 2000-2004 totaling 46 points in 182 games. After he was dealt to the New York Islanders in 2004, Pat Foley had a few choice words for Karpovtsev. I won't spoil the clip for anyone who hasn't seen it but it is the longest rant I have ever heard from Pat Foley towards a player on the Blackhawks.

"BAAAAAANNERMAN":

From 1980-1987, Murray Bannerman manned the Blackhawks net and had a solid seven-year career in Chicago. With two all-star game appearances, placing third in voting for the Vezina trophy in 1983, 116 wins, and a killer goalie mask, Bannerman was well-liked in the city of Chicago. He was so well-liked by Pat Foley, that Foley would scream out his name for a couple of seconds when he made a big save.

Edmonton Oilers vs Chicago Blackhawks, Game 4, 2020 Playoffs:

In what would be Pat Foley's last playoffs with the Blackhawks, he went all out in the series against the Edmonton Oilers. Even towards the end of his career, his voice was as electric as ever and didn't miss any opportunity to be enthusiastic.

With the Hawks leading the Oilers 3-1 in a best-of-five series, a forechecking Jonathan Toews stripped the puck from defenseman Ethan Bear and set up Dominik Kubalik in front of the net for the eventual series-winning goal for the Blackhawks. It was a huge upset win as the Hawks were the last-seeded team to qualify at 12th and they knocked off the number 5-seeded Oilers in just five games.

"BEN SMITH!! 22 YEARS OLD!!"

In the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Hawks had their backs against the wall as the Vancouver Canucks had a 3-0 series lead on Chicago. After convincingly winning Games 4 and 5, the Hawks were back on home ice in Game 6 hoping to be the fourth team in NHL history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit and win the series.

With the game tied 3-3 in overtime, rookie Ben Smith knocked in a rebound on his backhand from a Niklas Hjalmarsson slapshot to force game 7. Pat Foley went nuts when Smith scored as did the United Center. This is one of Pat's best calls in his entire career.

Jeremy Roenick Overtime Winner vs Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 4, 1994 Playoffs

This call is so beautiful for a couple of reasons. This was the last season that the Blackhawks would be playing at Chicago Stadium before the move to the United Center in '95. The Blackhawks were trailing the Leafs 2-0 in the series and with Games 3 and 4 being in Chicago, the Hawks fed off the energy from the crowd and evened the series at two games a piece.

More importantly, Game 4 called for overtime as the game was tied 3-3 after regulation. But 1:23 into overtime, a Joe Murphy takeaway in Toronto's end turned into a pass below the goal line towards Tony Amonte who found Jeremy Roenick wide open on the backdoor and slapped a one-timer into the open cage past goaltender Felix Potvin. The Chicago Stadium erupted. Jeremy Roenick gave us an iconic knee-sliding celebration from end to end. And Pat Foley gave us one of the best calls he's ever made.

Jonathan Toews Overtime Winner vs St. Louis Blues, Game 5, 2014 Playoffs:

This is Pat Foley's best work. In my mind, there is no greater call out there than this exhilarating, energetic, chilling, and mind-altering call from the great Pat Foley.

For background context, the Blackhawks were down 2-0 to the St. Louis Blues and most heartbreakingly, both Games 1 and 2 went into overtime with the Blues grabbing the win in both games.

With the Hawks on their heels, they dug in deep and won Games 3 and 4 on home ice to even the series at 2-2. Game 5 in St. Louis was tied at 2 heading into overtime where something all hockey kids dream of happened. Seven and a half minutes into overtime, Blues forward David Backes threw a shot on Corey Crawford and kicked it out to the slot toward Duncan Keith. Keith, realizing that Toews had just hopped onto the ice, slapped the puck toward center where Toews picked it up and was off to the races on a breakaway. Toews went forehand, and backhand, and slid the puck past Ryan Miller's left pad to lift the Hawks past the Blues in game 5 and take the series lead at 3-2. Right when Toews touched the puck, Pat Foley's voice went from 0-100 to give us the greatest call in his career.

To be as shocked and energetic as he was would be a very hard task for any announcer to replicate. Pat's ability to give 100/100 performances for 39 years was the reason why Blackhawks fans loved him and why he was rightfully inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.