New York Islanders play-by-play announcer Howie Rose is retiring from the post after more than two decades of brilliant calls.
One of the best in the business is vacating the mic.
Howie Rose, the longest-tenured play-by-play man in New York Islanders history, is calling it quits after a lengthy Isles career that spanned more than two decades.
Rose, who is widely regarded as the creme de la creme in the sports broadcasting business, will remain the New York Mets’ play-by-play announcer (although it is being speculated that he will request a reduced workload next season).
Since 1985, Rose has been a constant on MSG Network, first as a substitute announcer for Rangers radio broadcasts, then as the regular radio play-by-play guy, and finally as the Isles’ PBP broadcaster.
He has been paired with Ed Westfall, Joe Micheletti, Billy Jaffe, and Butch Goring. He cited an arduous workload as the reason for his departure.
“It’s the textbook definition of mixed emotions,” Rose said, via Neil Best of Newsday. “That’s exactly what it is. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more conflicted about a decision I have had to make in my life. But I’m confident I made really the only one I could make at this point in time in my career and life.
“Strictly, it’s the idea that I could have an offseason like most people who do what I do for a living. Maybe my wife would disagree on some level, but I think it’s only right that she has her husband around more than he’s been. Again, that might be open to her interpretation.
“But at the end of the day it’s something that I do with, as I say, the epitome of mixed emotions.”
Despite suffering through many dismal seasons, Rose still managed to convey a sense of professionalism, energy and excitement. He can also be credited with some of the best calls in the history of hockey. Here are some:
1. Bates Penalty Shot
Sean Bates never hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup with the Isles, but he did score one of the most famous goals in franchise history.
In the closing minutes of Game 4 of the Isles’ 2002 Eastern Conference quarterfinals matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bates was driving to the net when Bryan McCabe tripped him up and the referees awarded him a penalty shot.
What happened next was beautifully emanated by Howie Rose:
“The Islanders have had two penalty shots in Stanley Cup playoff history, here is number 3. Bates against Joseph ……Bates in on goal ….he shoots, He scores! Consider that for a franchise loaded with memorable postseason moments, you have just witnessed one of the most memorable. A penalty shot goal by Shawn Bates to give the Islanders a 4–3 lead with 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in regulation time.”
2. Tavares OT Winner
It took the New York Islanders more than two decades to win a playoff series.
When they finally did, it was bedlam in Brooklyn. John Tavares‘ game winning goal against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the 2016 first round playoffs in double-overtime erased thousands of demons for Isles fans.
But it almost didn’t happen.
The Isles trailed two-to-one with less than a minute remaining in regulation before Tavares scored the equalizer. He then won it in OT.
“That’s the one,” Rose said. “I don’t know how else to describe it but that it was my little Stanley Cup for the Islanders because we don’t do any more than the first round. I was really starting to become afraid that I would be known as the Horace Clarke of the Islanders and so when Tavares scored that goal it was a release, even a catharsis to an extent.”
3. Dubielwicz Poke Check
Nobody saw that coming.
Instead of Rick DiPietro or Mike Dunham tending the pipes, it was Wade Dubielewicz who back-stopped the Isles into the 2007 postseason, rattling off four wins in the final four games of the season.
With less than a second remaining in the final regulation frame in the final regular season contest, the New Jersey Devils sent the game into overtime. But it was Dubielewicz, a career minor-leaguer, who won it for the Isles with a famous poke-check in the shootout.
Rose echoed the same sentiments as the rest of us:
“Every shot Wade Dubielewicz has ever seen comes down to this confrontation, Sergei Brylin in on goal, Dubielewicz stops him! The New York Islanders are heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs…in as dramatic a fashion as you could envision!'”