Frank Mazzocco is retiring after more than 35 years as the voice of Gophers hockey on television and radio.
(University of Minnesota Athletics)
Minneapolis (FOX 9) – If you've ever watched or listened to a University of Minnesota men's hockey game, you may have heard the name Frank Mazzocco.
The 2024-25 season will see a new voice for the Gophers. Mazzocco, who has called games on television and radio for more than 35 years, officially announced his retirement on Thursday.
Frank Mazzacco has announced that he will be hanging up his headset.
The voice that is synonymous with Gopher Hockey. An incredible run filled with countless big calls, vintage moments, and lasting memories.
Thank you for everything and congratulations on a great career. @mazzpuck! pic.twitter.com/GsKjtcljON
— Minnesota Men's Hockey (@GopherHockey) April 4, 2024
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have been able to pull this much together,” Mazzocco said in a statement. “We've been very fortunate in the past. Gopher Sports Properties has helped reinvent the joy of broadcasting. We're so grateful for the past 13 years. I often refer to Wally and I as “The Odd Couple.'' ” But once we were on board, “The atmosphere, we had the same idea of how to play the game, and that’s why I enjoyed this job so much.The best thing about it was that It's been able to get to know the players. You can see the quality of the recruits and the players. It's been and continues to be.''It's unbelievable in this Gophers program. ”
Mazzocco was the Gophers' television play-by-play voice for more than 20 years between Fox Sports North and the Midwest Sports Channel. He served as a radio analyst with Wally Shaver starting in the 2011-12 season.
“There is no doubt that I will miss working with Frank,” Shaver said in a statement. “He's a consummate professional, always prepared, and I don't think anyone has the historical notes and statistics he keeps. We're like a married couple. We both knew what each other was going to say and had similar thought processes to what we were covering.”
Mazzocco has stepped away from the microphone and is concentrating on his photography work. He also plans to spend more time with his family, including his wife of more than 50 years.
