Off Mike

Millions of fans have enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm, insight, and storytelling on regular television broadcasts, through moments of triumph and defeat. Now, in this striking autobiography, the longtime broadcaster takes fans behind the mic as only he can. Emrick's love for hockey is obvious to anyone who's heard him call a game, and it's multi-layered. Tradition. The Stanley Cup chase. Suspense. Passion. Teamwork. History. Handshakes. An endless list. Yet it’s the people he treasures most of all, and Doc has more than his fair share of stories from countless interactions—more than he's even been able to tell during four decades in the broadcast booth. Through both his early life and his unparalleled career, readers will meet the full cast of characters who have made their mark on the man who's voice has defined the hockey experience for so many. Equal parts riveting and hilarious, this memoir gives fans a rare seat alongside Emrick and serves as a profound ode to the sport of hockey.

“I was lucky enough to do the foreword in Doc’s book Off Mike: How a Kid from Basketball-Crazy Indiana Became America’s NHL Voice, with Kevin Allen, and I wrote that the greatest compliment Doc ever gave me was, ‘I hope that when Eddie Olczyk is 65, he has someone who takes care of him as well as he’s taken care of me’ That means a lot.” —Eddie Olczyk, NHL.com

“Such details endeared him to avid fans of the sport at the same time his enthusiastic, cleverly worded calls engaged casual ones.” —Neil Best, Newsday 

Mike Emrick is an Emmy Award-winning television play-by-play commentator for NHL on NBC. "Doc" has been a sportscaster since 1973, calling a variety of sports and several Olympics. 

Kevin Allen spent 34 seasons as USA Today's hockey beat writer. He has written several books about hockey and co-authored books by Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, Darren McCarty, and Stu Grimson.