The sports world is mourning the death of legendary hockey broadcaster Barry Melrose, who died Wednesday at age 70.
Since announcing his death, ESPN has shared a video tribute to Melrose’s life, tracing his rise from a relatively unknown player to a young coach to one of the most beloved sports analysts on television.
Jeremy Schaap, one of Melrose’s close friends and colleagues at ESPN, voiced the video.
“He belonged to everyone who loves the game,” Schaap said, as highlights of Melrose’s career were shown.
Schaap summed up Melrose’s legacy succinctly.
“True to his upbringing on a farm, Melrose had no time for baloney. He told it like it was,” Schaap said. “Without pandering, without talking down to fans, without sugarcoating, Melrose brought the game to life for millions of fans.”
Schaap also highlighted Melrose’s iconic suits and even more iconic hair, as Melrose sported one of the most famous mullets in the history of mankind, and looked good doing it.
John Buccigross, Melrose’s longtime friend, colleague, and broadcast partner, also shared some words of remembrance on SportsCenter.
“Just seeing how he treated people. Every picture he took with everybody who asked. Every autograph he signed when autographs were a thing,” Buccigross said. “Just seeing how he treated people, how charming he was, how he made everyone’s day. … Everyone was the same to Barry. Even if you couldn’t do anything for him, he treated you like gold.”
Buccigross went on to make Melrose’s case for the Hockey Hall of Fame, adding that one of his most impressive traits was how he crossed over to embrace sports fans of all sorts.
“Barry just wasn’t a hockey broadcaster. He was a broadcaster. He was a media star. He came from a time for us where ESPN and SportsCenter are on the rise. … Barry brings us back to a time. He’s that big. He casts that big a shadow in the American sports scene.”
“Everyone was the same to Barry. Even if you couldn’t do anything for him, he treated you like gold. … We were his family. He loved ESPN more than anybody has loved ESPN.”@Buccigross pays tribute to former NHL head coach and ESPN analyst Barry Melrose ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1NuU8PpBqK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 10, 2026
There aren’t many people left in the world with a 100% approval rating, but the reaction to Melrose’s death makes it clear he was one of them.
Schaap said it well in the closing of his video tribute.
“Yes, without Barry Melrose, the game will go on, but it won’t be as much fun.”
About Tyler Lauletta
Tyler is a editorial contributor at Awful Announcing, with previous stops at Sports Illustrated and Business Insider during his career covering sports in digital media. He is, begrudgingly, a Truster of the Process and general Philly sports sicko.