Mike Lange, a legendary broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins, had a voice recognizable to nearly all fans of Pittsburgh sports and the entire NHL. Lange, who died Wednesday at age 76, was known in part for his unique calls and catchphrases.
Fans have no doubt heard the phrase “Elvis has just left the building” while watching or at a Penguins game. That very call came from Lange. The iconic line, “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh”? That came from him, too.
It’s no doubt that Lange’s 46-year career with the Penguins made a huge mark on the Penguins organization. Even young fans of the Penguins know who he is, despite many not yet being born at the time of many of his most legendary career moments.
Here is a look at some of Lange’s most memorable phrases:
“It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh!”
If you are a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, you know this phrase all too well. It is used on the Penguins’ social media accounts constantly whenever the team is at home.
In addition to that, it’s said right before puck drop on the public address system at every home game. Sometimes it’s a fan who is asked to say it. Recently, the Penguins had Steelers legend Jerome Bettis excitedly yell the famous phrase right before the game started.
It’s this catch phrase of Lange’s that continues to touch Penguins fans’ hearts.
“Slap me silly, Sidney!” and “Make me a milkshake, Malkin!”
The line “Slap me silly, Sidney!” was used for the first time on Oct. 8, 2005, Sidney Crosby’s first NHL game. Crosby scored a power play goal in the second period against the Boston Bruins, and as he celebrated, Lange used the iconic catchphrase for the first time.
Crosby went on to have a three-point night despite the Penguins losing. But that call would go on to be used by Lange for the rest of his broadcasting career.
“Make me a milkshake, Malkin!” is a phrase that Lange made up for Evgeni Malkin. It was the randomness of Lange’s calls that made him such a likable figure. But this phrase originated from very different circumstances.
A young boy once interviewed Lange, and Lange asked him if he had any ideas for a new phrase he could use. The boy, Dylan Cleland, was the first to coin the line that Lange would continue to use frequently whenever Malkin would score a goal.
These clever uses of alliteration created two iconic lines for two of the Penguins’ most iconic stars.
“Oh, Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley! Bring me the brandy!”
The 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins team, consisting of stars such as Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, was seconds away from winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Finally, the clock ran out. As the players all jumped onto the ice and crowded around goalie Tom Barrasso in celebration of their 6-5 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, Mike Lange excitedly yelled out this line.
Not only was this the second-ever Stanley Cup for the Penguins, they also were the eighth-ever team in NHL history to win two of them consecutively.
It was an unforgettable moment remembered with a similarly unforgettable line. And unforgettable is a perfect word to describe Lange’s legendary career.
