***Update*** Ralph Strangis has published an open letter on the Stars website concerning his departure. The letter in its entirety may be found here.
My timeline isn’t your timeline – I know that. You wish I’d be here forever. I would if I were you. I always wanted Ray Scott to do the Vikings and Al Shaver to call the Stars games forever. See how it works – Al has the chair – then another guy has the chair – then I have the chair – then another guy has the chair. It ain’t our chair to begin with.
To be in the chair for 25 years – that’s a rare thing. Saw lots of big stuff – huge – you probably heard me tell you about those things as they happened so we’ll share that forever. Also went through the tough times with ya. Shared those with ya too. Again like life. You’re up – you’re down. They come and they go…
Never know what you’re capable of and what’s out there you don’t try. So I’m gonna try. Change of scenery for sure. Nothin’ wrong with this view but I’m a guy that wants to see as much as I can. Might stay in hockey – still have a passion for it – might not. Might do other things. Writing and acting for sure on the side – or maybe I’ll teach or live someplace unusual.
Felt like I couldn’t leave my team until things got squared up again. Wasn’t that long ago a bank owned us and people were worried and we needed each other to get through it. Now it’s so good. Oh man. The Benn kid. Leaving on “Benn… Benn… Benn… Benn…” Guy like me doesn’t get to close Act 1 like that too often. The owner’s a great hockey guy – loves his team – goin’ through walls for ‘em. Hockey side – check. Big check. Office side – smooth and sharp. You’re gonna be fine. I got no worries about that. And they’ve been good to me. Especially now. Makes me feel good knowing how we’re doing this together.
—
Starting next season, Ralph Strangis will no longer be the play-by-play voice of the Dallas Stars.
Strangis announced Thursday that he was leaving the organization to pursue other interests. After devoting a quarter of a century to the Stars organization and calling more than 2,000 games as both a play-by-play and color man, he told Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News that it was simply time to move on.
“It’s my decision, and it comes at a time when I’m able to look at new opportunities and new challenges, and I just feel now is the time to do that,” Strangis said. “My daughter is going to college, I’m single, I don’t have a house…I have a lot of different interests, and this will give me a chance to look at my life and try something different.”
The Stars also released a statement in the form of a letter from team president Jim Lites.
Over the last 25 years, Ralph’s voice has been connected with nearly every significant moment in our franchise’s history. From the North Stars’ surprise Stanley Cup run in 1991 to Brett Hull’s iconic overtime goal in Buffalo and Mike Modano becoming the all-time leading American-born scorer, his passion for the game allowed hockey fans to feel like they were truly part of these moments. His voice will forever be attached to so many memories etched in our minds.
You should read the whole thing, as it’s a very nice tribute to Strangis’ long career with the organization.
Strangis and color partner Daryl Reaugh were an institution in the DFW market and one of only two NHL broadcast crews with a strong enough presence that they were both the television and radio voices of the team. Both signed multi-year contract extensions last year that began this season.
He was one of the final remaining pieces of the North Stars era still with the organization.
The DBD staff will have more reaction on his departure in the next few days, but for the moment, we want to say while we’re sad to be losing his presence in the broadcast booth, we wish Ralph the best of luck in all his future plans and thank him for his years of dedication to the organization, as well as his support of this site.
He will always have a home at the American Airlines Center.