Josh Getzoff, the Penguins’ television play-by-play broadcaster, wrote in an X post that he’s “feeling good” after passing out between periods during Pittsburgh’s game in Anaheim and being taken to a local hospital.
“I want to thank everyone for reaching out after what happened on Tuesday night,” Getzoff wrote in his social media post Thursday. “My family & I are overwhelmed by your support and so appreciative of your kind words. Big thanks to the first responders at Honda Center & the great doctors & nurses at UCI. I am feeling good, & am eager to get back in the booth soon!”
Getzoff passed out during the second intermission Tuesday as the Penguins faced the Ducks after leaving the broadcast booth for SportsNet Pittsburgh and conversing with another broadcaster, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which cited bystanders.
The outlet added that he was alert afterward and was hospitalized for precautionary reasons.
Getzoff’s absence forced the Penguins’ broadcasting situation to adjust on the fly, with radio play-by-play broadcaster Joe Brand shifting over to television with Colby Armstrong and director of team operations Jason Seidling filling Brand’s spot on the radio broadcast alongside Phil Bourque.
It’s unclear when Getzoff will return to the booth and call his next game, with the Penguins (2-2-0) slated to face the Kings in Los Angeles on Thursday and the Sharks in San Jose on Saturday before returning home to host the Canucks on Oct. 21.
Pittsburgh opened the season with victories against the Rangers and Islanders before falling to the Blueshirts and then the Ducks, with ex-Ranger Chris Kreider scoring two goals — including the game-winner in the third period — to sink the Penguins in their most recent game.
Getzoff has called Penguins games for 10 years and is in his third as the SportsNet Pittsburgh’s play-by-play broadcaster for television, and last November, he was on the call for Sidney Crosby’s 600th career goal — which made him the 21st player in NHL history to achieve the feat.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s all-encompassing, but it’s definitely something that you think about a lot,” Getzoff told NHL.com of the call. “You have to always be ready for it. Especially because this is a guy who’s on the ice for more than a third of the game. He’s always out there when there’s a power play, he’s always out there if there’s an empty net. He’s always out there in those kinds of situations.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
