Strader, who also has worked for ESPN, ABC and NBC, said receiving the Foster Hewitt honor means everything to him.
"I was a basketball guy growing up," he said. "Marv Albert was my first real broadcasting hero and I had never attended a live hockey game when I was first hired in Adirondack at age 23. Dan Kelly was probably the first national voice that I listened to a lot and one of the all-time greats still and Bob Cole [from "Hockey Night in Canada"] and Bruce Martin in Detroit. A lot of the team broadcasters from that era were the guys that I tried to listen to just to try to pick up some of the best practices."
Strader said he also has relied heavily on his color commentators such as Mickey Redmond, Denis Potvin, Darren Pang, Brian Engblom and Daryl Reaugh. He said it is very humbling to be included among past Foster Hewitt recipients such as Kelly, Cole, Danny Gallivan and Mike Emrick, broadcasters he regards as the finest in hockey.
"Those guys are like here," he said, holding up his hand. "And it's nice for the rest of us to get recognized, but I consider them the best."
Because of his health, the five Stars home games Strader called in February, including one for NBC, were the extent of his work this season until NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood gave him the opportunity to call the games at Verizon Center during the Capitals-Maple Leafs series.
That worked well for Strader because it's an easy flight from Albany, New York, to Washington.
"Just to be out on the road and connect with all of the guys I haven't seen or I didn't see those five games I did in Dallas, it's been great therapy," Strader said.
The good news is Strader said he feels "as good as I have since I began the full process." He said that's partly because of the timing. He completed his last round of chemotherapy about a month ago.