Fred Cusick 1918-2009

The legendary voice of the Boston Bruins, Fred Cusick has passed away at the age of 90. Cusick was the play-by-play man for Bruins games for 45 years. Countless hockey fans throughout New England grew up listening to Cusick call games and screaming his famous "SCORE!" call as they reenacted the triumphs of their hockey heroes on ponds and driveways across the region.

Cusick first began calling games on radio for the Bruins in 1952. In 1957, he became the first man to announce an NHL game on network television in the United States when he did play-by-play for CBS's NHL Game of the Week.  He later moved on to television full-time in 1971 when he joined Channel 38 and later broadcasted games on NESN. He continued to provide play-by-play for Bruins games up until 1997. Even in "retirement", Cusick still couldn't get away from the job he loved. He continued to call games for the Lowell Lock Monsters into his 80's. Cusick recently published a book about his life's work as a hockey announcer and the Boston Bruins.

I am fortunate to say that I grew up watching the Bruins with Fred Cusick on the mic.

Fittingly, Cusick was scheduled to be inducted in the Massachusetts Braodcasters Hall of Fame tommorow night.