Dan Kelly (sportscaster)
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Dan Kelly (born March 17, 1936 in Ottawa, Ontario; died February 10, 1989 in Chesterfield, Missouri) was a Canadian-born sportscaster best known for his radio play-by-play coverage of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, from early in their existence until his death more than two decades later.
In addition to the Blues, Kelly broadcast NHL games on national television in the United States and Canada for a number of years. He broadcast in 16 Stanley Cup Finals between 1969 and 1988, working for CBS, the NHL Network, the USA Network, CBC, CTV, and Global. He also provided play-by-play coverage of the 1987 Canada Cup and was the primary hockey broadcaster for CTV at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.
He was noted for his ability to project above the roaring crowds at the NHL arenas. He acknowledged that his booming call, "HE SCORRRES!" was patterned after that of the famous long-time NHL announcer Foster Hewitt.
Kelly called two of the most famous goals in hockey history. One was Bobby Orr's Cup-winning overtime goal in 1970. The other was Mario Lemieux's goal with 1:26 remaining in the decisive game of the 1987 Canada Cup.
"...out in front to Sanderson to ORR! BOBBY ORR! . . . scores and the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup!"
"...and now here's a two-on-one, Lemieux to Gretzky, back to Lemieux . . . HE SHOOTS, HE SCORRRES! . . . MARIO LEMIEUX!"
He also called a Stanley Cup semi-final in 1971 at Chicago Stadium (nicknamed "The Madhouse on Madison"). When the Blackhawks scored an empty-netter to clinch the series, he yelled, "I can feel our broadcast booth shaking! That's the kind of place Chicago Stadium is right now!"
Besides hockey, Kelly also broadcast college football for the Missouri Tigers and Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kelly died just five weeks shy of his 53rd birthday on February 10, 1989 from a rare cancer of the spine. His sons, John and Dan, Jr. have been broadcasting NHL games for various NHL franchises, including the Blues, for whom John is currently doing the television play-by-play.
In 2006, the St. Louis Blues dedicated the Scottrade Center press box in honor of Kelly.
