Mike Lange, Voice of the Penguins and Hockey Hall of Famer, Dies at 76
Oct, 28 2025
When Mike Lange took the mic for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1973, no one knew they were witnessing the birth of a local legend. He died on February 19, 2025, in Pittsburgh, at 76, leaving behind a legacy that didn’t just call games—it shaped a city’s identity. Lange wasn’t just the play-by-play voice; he was the emotional anchor during lean years, the thunderous cheerleader during Cup runs, and the man who made hockey feel like family. His 46-year run with the team, spanning five Stanley Cups, ended only when he retired in August 2021, but his words? They never left the airwaves.
The Voice That Made Pittsburgh Smile
Lange’s broadcasts weren’t commentary—they were theater. He didn’t just describe a goal. He made you feel it. "Smilin’ like a butcher’s dog," he’d yell after a gritty net-front deflection. "Buy Sam a drink, and get his dog one, too!" became a city-wide chant after every power-play goal. These weren’t gimmicks. They were shorthand for joy, grit, and the absurd beauty of hockey in a blue-collar town. Former ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann once admitted he’d steal Lange’s lines for highlight reels. That’s how iconic they were. Born March 3, 1948, in Sacramento, California, Lange started at $5 a game—enough for pizza and beer, he once told Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. He’d tape his college broadcasts and send them out like job applications. No takers. Then, in Phoenix, the Roadrunners’ announcer fell through a glass door. Lange got the call. He never looked back.A Voice That Survived the Franchise’s Lowest Points
The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t always a powerhouse. In the late 1970s, they were barely hanging on. Attendance dipped. Ownership shuffled. But Lange never left. He called games in empty arenas, his voice the only thing keeping the spirit alive. When Mario Lemieux arrived in 1984, Lange didn’t just announce his arrival—he made it mythic. "He’s not just a player," Lange once said on air, "he’s the reason we’re still here." And then came the Cups. In 1991, he roared, "They’ve done it! They’ve done it!" In 1992, after defeating Chicago, he bellowed, "Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, get me the brandy!" That line? Still played on loop in Pittsburgh bars every June. When Fox Sports Net let him go after the 2005-06 season, fans erupted. Paul Steigerwald replaced him on TV—but Lange moved to radio, where he called the 2009, 2016, and 2017 championships. Even at 70, his voice didn’t crack. His timing didn’t waver. He knew when to pause. When to scream. When to let the crowd roar.
More Than a Broadcaster—A Cultural Pillar
Pittsburgh Magazine called Lange a "folk hero." And it’s true. He didn’t just report on the game—he explained why it mattered. His ability to anticipate the play, to contextualize the emotion, to tie a slapshot to the city’s soul, is what earned him the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2001. He was the first Penguins broadcaster inducted. "His voice is synonymous with the biggest calls in franchise history," NHL.com wrote. "A wordsmith—a magician behind the mic." He wasn’t just loved by fans. Players revered him. Coaches trusted him. Even Jean-Claude Van Damme cast him as himself in the 1995 film Sudden Death, a Stanley Cup thriller set in Pittsburgh. That’s not just a cameo. That’s canon.What Comes Next for the Penguins and Their Legacy
The team has yet to announce a permanent tribute, but the whispers are loud: a statue near Mario Lemieux’s outside PPG Paints Arena. A moment of silence before every home opener. A plaque in the broadcast booth. Anything less would feel like erasing a chapter of Pittsburgh’s soul. The Penguins’ official statement called Lange "so much more than a legendary broadcaster. He was respected by the players and coaches and beloved by the fans." That’s the understatement of the century. He was the glue. The heartbeat. The guy who made a 3 a.m. radio broadcast feel like a communal prayer.
Why Mike Lange Still Matters
In an era of robotic, sanitized sports commentary—where announcers say "he scores!" instead of "he buried it like a man who just won the lottery and got a puppy on the same day"—Lange reminds us why we love this game. He didn’t just call the action. He told the story. He gave us poetry in the midst of chaos. He made hockey feel human. His death isn’t just the end of a career. It’s the end of an era. The last voice that made Pittsburgh feel like it belonged to something bigger than itself.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Mike Lange’s broadcasting style differ from other NHL announcers?
Lange’s style was theatrical, deeply personal, and rich with local flavor. While most announcers stick to clean, neutral descriptions, Lange used vivid metaphors like "smilin’ like a butcher’s dog" and "beat him like a rented goalie." He didn’t just report the game—he narrated the emotion behind it, making every goal feel like a community event. His cadence, timing, and unapologetic Pittsburgh accent made him instantly recognizable and deeply beloved.
What were Mike Lange’s most famous catchphrases?
His most iconic lines include "Buy Sam a drink, and get his dog one, too!" after power-play goals, "smilin’ like a butcher’s dog" for a player’s grin after a goal, and "He beat him like a rented goalie" for a dominant individual play. He also famously declared "Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, get me the brandy!" after the Penguins’ 1992 Stanley Cup win. These phrases weren’t just slogans—they became part of Pittsburgh’s cultural lexicon.
Did Mike Lange call all of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup victories?
Yes. Lange called all five of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup wins: 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. He was on radio for the 2009, 2016, and 2017 victories after moving exclusively to radio in 2006. His calls from the 1991 and 1992 Cups are still replayed today, considered among the most electric in NHL broadcasting history.
Why was Mike Lange so important to Pittsburgh’s identity?
During the team’s lean years in the 1970s and early 1980s, Lange was the reason fans kept tuning in. He gave the Penguins personality when the franchise had little else. His voice carried the city through the Lemieux and Crosby eras, making hockey feel like a shared experience. Pittsburgh Magazine credited him with helping the team survive financially and culturally—saying the Penguins "never would have become part of the fabric of the region" without him.
What’s the likelihood of a permanent memorial for Mike Lange?
The odds are extremely high. The Penguins organization has already called him "beloved by the fans," and local media—including Pittsburgh Magazine—have publicly advocated for a statue near Mario Lemieux’s outside PPG Paints Arena. Given his Hall of Fame status and cultural impact, a tribute is all but certain. It’s not a question of if, but when and how grand.
Did Mike Lange have any other notable media appearances?
Yes. He appeared as himself in the 1995 action film Sudden Death, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which was set during a fictional Stanley Cup Finals between the Penguins and Blackhawks. He was also credited in the 2017 documentary Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup 2017 Champions and the 2022 film Sidney Crosby: The Rookie Year. These weren’t cameos—they were acknowledgments of his status as the voice of the franchise.