Legendary Penguins broadcaster, Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange dies

Mike Lange didn’t think he would make it in Pittsburgh.

Beyond the first week.

After arriving in Western Pennsylvania to begin his new job as the play-by-play voice of the Penguins, Lange took up temporary residence with a co-worker and the two went out to a local establishment on his first night in town.

And his second night.

And his third night.

And so on.

Lange quickly realized an axiom.

“If I don’t move into my own place, I’m not going to last here,” Lange recalled in the 2010s.

Lange did ultimately last in Pittsburgh for more than four decades. And in all reality, his presence will endure as long as hockey is played in this city.

His blend of detailed calls, colorful metaphors to celebrate goals and fastidious preparation made him one of the most popular figures in the history of the franchise, on par with some of the of all-time greats who have suited up for the Penguins.

Be it an elegant breakaway by Mario Lemieux, a furious wrister by Jaromir Jagr or a dagger of a backhander by Sidney Crosby, Lange was the narrator for generations of Penguins fans, many of whom imitated Lange’s iconic phrases such as “Never teach a pig to sing!” or “Michael, Michael, motorcycle!”

Lange died Wednesday at 76. There was no immediate word regarding cause of death. He retired in 2021 in part due to health concerns.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Lange was born March 3, 1948. Obtaining a broadcasting degree from Sacramento State, Lange worked as the play-by-play voice of the Phoenix Roadrunners and San Diego Gulls of the former Western Hockey League before joining the Penguins.

After spending one season with the Penguins, Lange left in 1975 but returned in 1976 and commanded play-by-play duties in some capacity — either with radio or television — until he retired in 2021.

During his four-plus decades in the booth, Lange saw the franchise experience both ends of the spectrum in terms of success.

In addition to calling five Stanley Cup championships (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016 and 2017), Lange detailed the malaise of uncompetitive seasons such as the 1983-84 and 2003-04 campaigns. During those times, the Penguins were so uncompetitive — some would accuse them of tanking — they were in position to draft franchise icons such as Lemieux and Crosby in the ensuing offseasons.

Before Lemieux’s arrival in 1984, the Penguins were a mostly mediocre team that rarely competed with the powerhouses of the NHL such as the Montreal Canadiens or the cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers.

While they had some talented players such as Pierre Larouche or Jean Pronovost, the Penguins never had a true superstar, with the possible exception of Lange who was often the most popular part of any Penguins broadcast, primarily for his remarkable phrases he belted out following goals.

“Look out Loretta!” or “He Beat Him Like A Rented Mule!” were some of Lange’s customary idioms, many of which were submitted by fans, including those looking up Arnold Slick’s phone number in Turtle “Crick.”

Even something as simple as Lange’s mellow but enthusiastic “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh” served as a welcoming overture to those tuning in.

Beyond Lange’s flamboyant expressions, his detailed approach to his craft is largely what made him successful. In addition to holding conversational interviews with players and coaches, Lange meticulously researched games in advance and would regularly re-write printed game notes onto a clean sheet of paper and tape it to a wall immediately adjacent to him in the broadcast booth for quick reference.

Lange’s clear, concise calls for simple mundane plays such as faceoffs or clearing attempts were as important to his broadcasts as his remarkable vernacular for describing a remarkable save (“He should get five to 10 for that one!”) or a game-winning overtime goal (“Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building!”)

“Mike was a Penguins legend and one of the most important figures in franchise history,” Lemieux said in a statement issued by the team. “It was my honor to have him call virtually every goal in my career and play a key role in all five of our Stanley Cup championships. Mike was a one-of-a-kind broadcaster, a tremendous ambassador for the city of Pittsburgh and, most importantly, a great friend. He will be missed.”

In 2001, Lange received the Foster Hewitt Award from the NHL Broadcasters Association, an honor that includes induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Following his enshrinement, Phil Bourque, a former Penguins forward who became Lange’s regular broadcast partner, often only referred to Lange as “hall of famer.”

In addition to the Penguins, Lange also called games for the Pittsburgh Pirates on the former KBL channel, NHL playoff games (not involving the Penguins) on ESPN and even had a stint with the Washington Diplomats of the former North American Soccer League.