Legendary Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange died on Wednesday. He was 76 years old.
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe shared the news on Wednesday evening, offering an equally touching tribute to the one true voice of Penguins hockey.
The Penguins also issued a brief statement on social media. It can be read below.
Mike Lange was a wordsmith— a magician behind the mic. The Californian quickly became a quintessential Pittsburgher, and his colorful calls and smooth cadence brought Penguins hockey to life.
The Hall-of-Famer’s voice is synonymous with the biggest calls in franchise history, including all five Stanley Cup Championships, and his unique one-liners and knack for anticipating game-changing plays set him apart from other announcers. Only Mike could make the biggest names in hockey seem even more magical with just his voice.
Mike was so much more than a legendary broadcaster. He was respected by the players and coaches and beloved by the fans. Because of him, Hockey Nights in Pittsburgh had the entire city “smilin’ like a butcher’s dog”.
Lange was the voice of the Penguins for 46 years and retired before the start of the 2021-22 season, citing challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he also reached the milestone of 50 years broadcasting hockey before he stepped away.
Known for his collection of colorful catchphrases, Lange’s voice was a shining, often-defining light of Pittsburgh hockey, especially in the franchise’s early years of trials and tribulations.
For as much bad hockey as Lange watched in those early years, he also saw the Penguins draft several franchise icons in Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby, with all of these players helping the Penguins win Stanley Cups in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017.
In 2001, he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame’s broadcasting wing.
There will simply never be another like Mike Lange.
“Elvis has just left the building.”