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Ken McMillan
Ken McMillan has been covering high school sports since he got his first writing job in 1979. He has covered just about every sport available on the scholastic front, and has reported on countless state and national champions. He has covered Section ... Read FullCategories
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The “Big Whistle” passes away at 94
Rangers fans will certainly mourn the passing of long-time announcer Bill “The Big Whistle” Chadwick. He died on 94 at a Long Island hospice after falling into failing health.
Chadwick had his minor-pro hockey playing career cut short in the 1930s following two eye injuries, the first of which left him legally blind in one eye. Despite his disability, Chadwick went on to officiate in the NHL until 1955, where he became famous for officiating 13 Stanley Cup clinching games and developing the hand signal system for calling penalties.
Upon the urging of former Rangers coach and general manager Emile Francis, Chadwick embarked on a 14-year broadcasting career for the Rangers. He worked five seasons with Marv Albert on radio broadcasts, and then joined Jim Gordon for nine years on television broadcasts.
One of his catch phrases made popular during his TV days was “Shoot the puck, Barry!,” his means of encouraging Rangers defenseman Barry Beck to use his booming shot, especially on the power play. Chadwick and Gordon were on the call for the 1979 Stanley Cup finals, a series won by the Montreal Canadiens in five games after the Rangers stunned Les Habs in game one at the old Montreal Forum.