Jack Edwards, longtime Bruins play-by-play announcer, to retire after season

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Jack Edwards, longtime Bruins play-by-play announcer, to retire after season

Boston Bruins play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards will retire after this season, he announced Tuesday. He has called Bruins games for NESN for 19 seasons.

Edwards, 67, has been struggling with his speech for the last two seasons. Edwards’ doctors have not been able to diagnose his issue. Edwards’ condition has not allowed him to keep up with the pace of play. He is at full health otherwise.

“In collaboration with Bruins and NESN leadership, I recently decided that the time has come for me to finish my shift as the voice of the Boston Bruins,” Edwards said in a statement. “I am no longer able to attain the standards I set for myself, to honor the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN with the best they all deserve.”

The colorful and cheery Edwards established himself as one of the NHL’s most unique play-by-play announcers. He did not hold back in his enthusiasm for the Bruins in his calls. Boston’s opponents and officials often landed in Edwards’ verbal crosshairs. He had one of his most infamous run-ins with current Bruin Pat Maroon, then with the Tampa Bay Lightning, over the power forward’s playing condition.

The University of New Hampshire graduate also worked for ESPN and Boston’s WCVB-TV prior to working at NESN.

“Congratulations to Jack Edwards on a tremendous career,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “Personally disappointed he’s retiring. But (I’m) really happy for him. He’s a Bruins icon and a big part of the Black and Gold’s tradition with what he’s done over a tremendous career.”

Alex Faust, the former Los Angeles Kings play-by-play announcer, has filled in for Edwards on occasion this season. Faust is a Northeastern graduate who currently lives in New York. Faust could be the leading candidate to replace Edwards next to analyst Andy Brickley.

NESN concludes its regular-season coverage Tuesday when Boston hosts the Ottawa Senators. NESN will air first-round games that are not claimed by ABC, ESPN or TNT.

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(Photo: Jim Davis / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)