From Glens Falls to ESPN: Remembering Hockey Legend Barry Melrose

RIP to Hockey Legend Barry Melrose

For hockey fans across the country, Barry Melrose was unmistakable. The mullet. The suits. The personality. And, of course, decades spent talking hockey on ESPN.

But here in Upstate New York, Barry Melrose was much more than the guy we watched on TV. He was one of us.

Deep Roots in Glens Falls

Melrose passed away Wednesday at age 70, leaving behind an incredible hockey legacy and deep roots in Glens Falls.

His connection to the city stretched back decades. Melrose finished his playing career with the Adirondack Red Wings during the 1986-87 season. A few years later, he returned as their head coach and led the Red Wings to the Calder Cup championship in 1992.

Gave His Life to Hockey

From there, Melrose went to the NHL, coaching Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. Eventually, millions of hockey fans came to know Melrose through ESPN, where his personality and passion made him one of the sport's most recognizable voices.

He retired from ESPN in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Barry Melrose accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in hockey. And we're proud that along the way, he called Glens Falls home.

Former NHLer Barry Melrose's Home in Glens Falls

After playing, coaching and owning a franchise in Glens Falls, former NHL player and coach, Barry Melrose, decided to call it home. Take a look inside the walls of an NHL media legend.