Eric Duhatschek Retires

[Ped]

After 46 years of sports coverage. One of hockey's most respected writers, he has his final article on The Athletic today, which is worth a read if you have any free articles left.

Enjoy the retirement, Eric.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/590...chek-farewell/


Some highlights:


Quote:
I saw the U.S. men’s team play seven times before the Olympics, so when the Canadian team was eliminated, I veered over to cover the final two games of the tournament and accidentally was in place to cover one of the seminal sporting events of the 20th century, the Miracle on Ice.

Quote:
But journalism isn’t all celebratory, either. There were some really hard moments: the Swift Current bus crash, the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, the deaths of George Pelawa and Steve Chiasson.
None was more personally and professionally challenging than the events of September 2011. I’d been admitted to the hospital in Calgary with a collapsed lung that stubbornly refused to heal. It was determined that I needed major surgery, a thoracotomy. While I was preparing for that operation, the plane carrying the Lokomotiv hockey team crashed in Russia, killing almost everyone aboard, including Brad McCrimmon, who had become a friend over the years. That spring, I’d seen Brad postgame after a Detroit-Phoenix playoff game. He introduced me to his parents that night and mentioned the possibility of a new adventure in the fall. I’d previously written a book about hockey in Russia a few years prior with Dave King, the first Canadian to coach in what was then called the Russian Super League.

Quote:
That was one of the best things about the job. It took you everywhere. Sometimes, you knew you were witnessing history. Other times, it came as a complete surprise. I was at the final game played by the Colorado Rockies (April 3, 1982, against Calgary). I was at the first home game played by the San Jose Sharks (Oct. 5, 1991). I was there, in Florida, the night the Panthers defeated the Flames 4-3 in their home opener and Scott Mellanby scored twice. Afterward, Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck noted how, just before the game, a rat had scurried across the dressing room floor in the old Miami Arena, and Mellanby, who had his stick with him, sent it splattering against the wall, with a quick flip of his wrist. Not a hat trick, but a “rat trick.” When the Panthers unexpectedly made the Stanley Cup Final later that season, plastic rats rained down on the ice surface after Florida goals, a tradition that continues today.

Here’s something not everybody knows about me. When I began school, I couldn’t speak a word of English. We spoke only German at home, as my parents were also in the process of learning a new language after arriving in Canada. The fact that I ended up making a living writing in what is effectively my second language is the thing I take the most pride in.

[TOfan]

One of the best.

Started reading his work while he was writing for the Herald and I was in Jr. high. While he was a weekly contributor to HNIC’s hot stove lounge, it was must watch for me. Also enjoyed listening to him on Primetime Sports round table with Bob McGown. More recently, enjoyed his work at the Athletic, particularly his mailbags which always worked in some Flames content.

Happy trails, Eric! Been a pleasure.

[Erick Estrada]

Since the 80's Duhatschek has been synonymous with the Flames and NHL. He's always been a class act and a true professional as he was night and day unbiased compared to beat writers of other Canadian teams and IMO represents the high bar for sports journalism. Enjoy retirement Eric!

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Since the 80's Duhatschek has been synonymous with the Flames and NHL. He's always been a class act and a true professional as he was night and day unbiased compared to beat writers of other Canadian teams and IMO represents the high bar for sports journalism. Enjoy retirement Eric!

Very true. He never really pulled any punches with the Flames. Always fair.

I’m sure he could write a book about the team. My memory may be off on this but I believe he said, a long time ago, that when the Flames dealt Gilmour, the other team in on it was the Hartford Whalers. Would love to know what that offer was.

The things Eric has heard over the years would be really really interesting to read.

[transplant99]

Simply the best.....full stop.

He's a guy I have been in correspondence with on a couple different things over the years and such a consummate pro about it all.

Enjoy the golden years Eric, you have most certainly earned it.

Also....just a great music critic/fan who turned me on to a few different groups back in the day.

[Vinny01]

Congrats to Duha

There is absolute zero flames or Calgary based writers on the Athletic now.

[EVERLAST]

Yeah Duha...absolutely a gem. If you really really listened you'd never be mistaken about his love for the game and the Flames .

Maybe he writes another book? I'd be okay with that. Thanks for your Passion Eric D

[zukes]

I used to read EVERY article about the Flames that I could get my hands on as a kid. Eric was one of the best, always loved his perspective. Happy retirement!

[CedarMeter]

Met him at the airport once. He talked my ear off. Hell of guy. Enjoy your retirement, Eric.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Congrats to Duha

There is absolute zero flames or Calgary based writers on the Athletic now.

There's more than enough EPL and NHL coverage for me to consume, but this is a bummer. I thought Julian did a really good job but alas he is now in Ottawa.

[nomad]

Thanks Eric! Appreciated all your work over the years.

Sent from my SM-A356W using Tapatalk

[The Yen Man]

Best Flames writer ever, hands down. I used to read all his articles in the Calgary Herald.

[troutman]

He was roommates with music critic James Muretich. I would love to hear those stories.

[browna]

Obviously grew up reading the Herald.
When sports media mattered to get the message across, a journalist
through and through, clearly someone who respected the industry and the sport he was covering, and the people in both professions.

Always the voice of measured reason, always something interesting to say into spin on the facts.

Trustworthiness by readers is what journalists back then strived for first and foremost, and he had that from the start and never lost it, that's got to be the biggest compliment he could have.

Best of whatever is next for him, truly a Calgary media icon if you grew up in the city.

[Eric Vail]

Does he still live in Calgary?

Someone in leadership in Calgary Puck should arrange a night where we tribute him. He has been huge for every Flames fan.

It wouldn't have to be a big deal, pick a date/time and we go to a pub and have a drink with him. Someone could make a toast and then we just hang out. It would be a cool event and Eric would be very worthy of the tribute.

[Yeah_Baby]

Enjoy Retirement, Eric. You are one of the greats and Calgary was/is lucky to have you.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

Does he still live in Calgary?

Someone in leadership in Calgary Puck should arrange a night where we tribute him. He has been huge for every Flames fan.

It wouldn't have to be a big deal, pick a date/time and we go to a pub and have a drink with him. Someone could make a toast and then we just hang out. It would be a cool event and Eric would be very worthy of the tribute.

For some reason I thought he moved to Toronto several years ago. I have no clue though.

[Cheese]

The best hands down! A true professional that always said it like it was with no hold-backs. Read pretty much all of his articles over the years!

Young journalists could learn a lot from him!

Enjoy your retirement Eric!

[SilverKast]

Reading his articles in the Herald was always one of my favorites when I was younger and the newspaper was your primary source of info. Still read along on the Athletic whenever possible as well, going to miss his writing for sure!

[Buff]

Eric D was well spoken and well written. I enjoyed him on HNIC's Hotstove Lounge between the 2nd and 3rd periods every week. I kept buying papers longer than I would have because of Duha. When I heard about the Athletic I wasn't keen on the idea but when Eric joined them I bought a subscription.