Stan Fischler
Stanley I. Fischler | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 31, 1932 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Historian, broadcaster, author, academic |
| Years active | 1954–2018 (broadcasting) |
| Known for | Hockey history and analysis; New York City Subway history; MSG Network broadcaster |
| Notable work | The Hockey Encyclopedia, Everybody's Hockey Book, Hockey Chronicle, The New NHL Encyclopedia, Cracked Ice: An Insider's Look at the NHL, MetroIce: A Century of Hockey in Greater New York, Uptown, Downtown |
Stanley I. Fischler (born March 31, 1932) is a distinguished American historian specializing in hockey and the New York City Subway, as well as a broadcaster, prolific author of over 100 publications, and academic. During his broadcasting career with MSG, Fischler earned seven Emmy Awards.
Career
Following his graduation from Brooklyn College, Fischler embarked on his journalism journey working as a public relations representative for the New York Rangers during the 1954–55 NHL season. He later shifted into television, serving as an analyst for the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association during the 1973–74 WHA season. After two seasons with the Whalers, Fischler joined SportsChannel (now MSG), where he covered the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League until concluding his on-air career after the 2017–2018 season. His tenure at MSG is particularly notable, highlighted by seven Emmy Awards. Known for his straightforward and occasionally provocative commentary, Fischler's broadcasting style sometimes generated lively discussions.
In addition to his television work, Fischler contributed hockey analysis for MSG and continues to write columns for their digital platform. Beginning in 2009, he hosted "Five For Fischler" on Hockey Night Live!, a program showcasing top-five hockey-related lists. During the 1980s, he was also a hockey commentator for The Radio Show broadcast on CBC Radio in Canada.
Fischler has penned nearly 100 books covering hockey, baseball, and the New York subway system. Among his significant works are The Hockey Encyclopedia, Everybody's Hockey Book, Hockey Chronicle, The New NHL Encyclopedia, Cracked Ice: An Insider's Look at the NHL, and MetroIce: A Century of Hockey in Greater New York, which centers on regional NHL teams. His acclaimed subway publication is titled Uptown, Downtown. Additionally, Fischler contributed to the 2017 documentary Only the Dead Know the Brooklyn Americans, drawing from his childhood memories of that team. Up until 2017, he authored a weekly column for the Kingston Daily Freeman.
His articles have appeared in prominent outlets including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Sport, Newsweek, The Hockey News, and on the NHL's official website.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to hockey in the United States, Fischler was honored with the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2007. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in December 2021. On October 26, 2022, the New York Islanders named the press level at UBS Arena as The Stan Fischler Press Level in tribute.
As of December 2023, Fischler remains active in publishing hockey-related content online through platforms such as the NHL and The Hockey News.
Personal life
Born on March 31, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, Stanley I. Fischler is the sole offspring of Benjamin and Malkla 'Molly' Fischler and was raised within a modest Jewish household. His mother emigrated from Czechoslovakia and tragically lost most of her family during the Holocaust. A devoted hockey enthusiast from an early age, Fischler attended his first live game in 1939 and witnessed his first NHL match in 1942 between the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks. Despite growing up in New York, he supported the Toronto Maple Leafs and became a season ticket holder for the Rangers during the 1947–48 NHL season, allowing him to watch Maple Leafs games regularly. He was among the original subscribers to The Hockey News when it launched in 1947 and began contributing to it as a writer by 1955.
On May 13, 2014, Fischler’s wife Shirley—herself a respected hockey journalist and frequent collaborator—passed away from cancer at age 74.
After retiring from broadcasting in 2018, Fischler moved to El Rom, Israel, to be closer to his son Simon and grandchildren despite not being fluent in Hebrew. He maintains daily physical activity routines and stays connected with North American hockey developments. Politically, Fischler identifies as a Zionist, shaped by his family’s Holocaust experiences and dedication to Jewish causes.
External links
- 1932 births
- 20th-century American Jews
- American television reporters and correspondents
- Historians from Brooklyn
- Sportswriters from New York (state)
- Lester Patrick Trophy recipients
- Living people
- MSG Network people
- NFL announcers
- National Hockey League broadcasters
- New Jersey Devils announcers
- New York Giants announcers
- New York Rangers announcers
- New York Islanders announcers
- People from Brooklyn
- World Hockey Association broadcasters
- 21st-century American Jews