Olczyk mingled with fans, posed for pictures and signed books to each person that waited in line to meet him. He traded stories and his engaging conversation left many amazed.
"Usually you meet people, and they're like 'Sign the book, nice to meet you' and then you leave," said Dan Cafiero of Massapequa, New York, who wanted to meet Olczyk before attending the New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators game in Brooklyn. "He was making conversation with me, which is just awesome."
Cat Kaplan, a Blackhawks fan who lives in New York but is from Olczyk's hometown of Niles, Illinois, found out about his appearance and had to meet him. She recalled how upset she felt upon learning about his diagnosis.
"When I found out that he was sick, it was devastating, and you could really tell he was gone," Kaplan said of Olczyk's absence from TV. "I was following along and hoping for good news, and I'm just so happy that he made it back."