Odgie, we hardly knew ye. Well, that’s not exactly true. Before we all got to know Jeff Odgers as a broadcaster, we had the privilege of watching him crash, bang, and fight his way into the hearts of Thrashers fans as the player fondly known as the Sheriff. It was a fitting nickname; whenever things got a little dicey for the upstart new Atlanta team in those early years, the Sheriff would ride in with fists ablazin’ and restore order. And it didn’t matter which member of the opposition may have been disturbing the Thrashers’ peace back then. Odgie was an equal opportunity law provider. He was a middleweight physically but a true heavyweight when it came to heart and courage; there was never a physical challenge on the ice he was unwilling to meet. That was his hallmark as an NHL survivor. Through the combination of impeccable work ethic, desire, and toughness, Jeff Odgers was able to carve out a 12-year career at the world’s highest level of hockey in true overachiever’s fashion.

When he was presented the opportunity to enter the broadcasting business just a couple of years ago, Odgie applied those same attributes to the booth. The evening he sat behind a microphone for the first time, his skills may have been raw, but his effort and personality are the qualities that shone. And once he became comfortable in his new setting and was able to polish those raw skills, Jeff Odgers – in my humble opinion – was as entertaining an analyst as there was on any NHL radio broadcast. With his humor, insight, and drive, Odgie had once again overachieved.

In my 22 years broadcasting hockey at the pro level (NHL & AHL), I have been privileged to work with some terrific broadcast partners, who all brought energy, insight, humor, and hard work to the job. Odgie was as entertaining and effective a broadcast partner as I’ve ever been fortunate enough to sit next to in the booth. His humor was infectious, his insight fresh, and his connection with the fans was off the charts. But those aren’t the primary reasons I’ll miss working with Jeff, now that he has decided to move back to Saskatchewan with his two incredible sons, Jon and Dakota.

The number one reason I’ll miss working with Jeff Odgers is the friendship forged over the past two years. It’s been an honor to get to know Odgie the person and be able to consider him a close friend. Once Jeff settled into his new surroundings, every broadcast we did felt like two friends getting together to talk some hockey. To me, that is the kind of in-booth atmosphere that projects best over the air and makes my job one of the most enjoyable I can imagine.

The good news is that Jeff Odgers will be back in Atlanta from time to time and will maintain an association with the franchise, including some probable on-air appearances. That’s the way it should be. Notwithstanding the nine (or so) broken noses during his career (none in the booth), you could make a case that Odgie was the first “face” of this franchise. And who knows, maybe we’ll be adding the voice to the face, somewhere down the road. Best of luck, Odg.