NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire had prostate cancer surgery but will be back for Olympics

By Washington Post Today at 10:31 a.m.
A monitor shows Pierre McGuire, the NBC broadcaster, speaking with Dave Hakstol, the Philadelphia Flyers coach, during a game at Madison Square Garden, Jan. 25, 2017. McGuire has become indispensable on NBC’s telecasts. "Preparation really matters,” he said. “You go into every game hoping for a great game. No matter who wins or loses, you’ll be able to tell a lot of stories.” (Sam Hodgson/The New York Times Copyright 2018)

NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire didn't see it coming.

"I had no signs at all that I was ill," McGuire told TSN 690 in Montreal on Wednesday. "My work habits hadn't changed, my workout habits hadn't changed. My eating habits hadn't changed. I hadn't lost weight and hadn't gained weight."

But after undergoing a routine checkup in September, McGuire's doctor asked that he undergo further tests that revealed he had Stage 1 prostate cancer. Last Wednesday, surgeons successfully removed his prostate.

"I was just living a normal life. . . . I'm just so grateful for having Dr. [Michael] Cohen pick that up," he said.

McGuire, 56, says he feels "fantastic" and expects to be back for NBC's hockey coverage at next month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

"You can't take short cuts and you've got to stare things right in the eye," McGuire said. "I've been fortunate to have really good medical people, my family's been unbelievably supportive and I knew exactly what I was getting into. I chose to go the aggressive route and get the prostate out."

In August, fellow NBC and Chicago Blackhawks analyst Eddie Olczyk announced he had Stage 3 colon cancer. As of late last month he had completed seven of 12 rounds of chemotherapy treatments, working a couple of Blackhawks games along with NBC's coverage of the Breeders' Cup in between.

Author information: After spending the first 17 years of his Post career writing and editing, Matt Bonesteel and the printed paper had an amicable divorce in 2014. He's now blogging and editing for the Early Lead and The Post's other Web-based products.

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