Dallas Stars announced Sunday morning play-by-play announcer Dave Strader has died. He was 62.
Strader joined the Stars in the 2015-16 season. Following that season, he was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer.
He was only able to call five games for the team during the following season. He returned to the booth in February, where the team saluted him following the Stars overtime win. The broadcast of the game and Strader's return to the booth was honored by two Lone Star Emmy nominations announced this week.
"Everyone who knew him, and everyone who was able to listen to him call games, is saddened to learn about the passing of Dave Strader," said Stars President and CEO Jim Lites. "His voice is synonymous with hockey to fans all over the globe and he built a connection for so many fans to this game. More importantly, he was a tremendous husband, father, grandfather and friend and we will miss him deeply. Our sincerest prayers and condolences are directed to his wife Colleen and their entire family."
At the Dr. Pepper Stars Center in Richardson, hockey fans were stunned to hear the news.
"His voice was distinctive," said Rick Sloane. "It was a big shock waking up and seeing it on the Stars Facebook feed. It was a shock to see that he had passed."
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Plano East head hockey coach Corey Clarks said Strader's play-by-play would be missed.
"It really transplanted you from sitting at home in your living room, or listening to the game on radio or what have you, righ there into the game and into the action," Clarks said. "It just felt like you were right there."
Strader was also part of the NBC Sports team during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he called several games for the network. Prior to joining the Stars, he called games for NBCSN and the NBC Sports Group. His resume went beyond hockey, including broadcasts in the 2006 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
He was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame in April as the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. He will be honored for that award in November in Toronto.
