The 72-year-old Emrick, diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in 1991, has been cancer-free for more than 25 years. Olczyk, 52, diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in August 2017, announced he was cancer-free in March. McGuire, 56, diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in October, has been cancer-free since January.
"I was just relieved for everyone," McGuire said of that game in St. Louis. "Every time I get a chance to work with that team I've been with for 14 years, with Eddie and Doc, I never take it for granted. Whether we were sick or not, I've always enjoyed it."
McGuire's cancer was discovered after a routine checkup with his doctor. He wanted to work the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics for NBC in February, so he took the aggressive approach to treatment. McGuire had a full prostatectomy in New York at about 5 a.m. on Jan. 4, several hours after working the Chicago Blackhawks-New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden.
McGuire, who did not need chemotherapy, began his recovery immediately.
"I was out [of the hospital] on Jan. 5, walking 2 miles on Jan. 6 and up to 4 miles on Jan. 8. So I was really, really fortunate," said McGuire, who covered the PyeongChang Olympics. "Usually I haven't been a good patient in my life, coming back from injuries. I always wanted to play sooner than I should have. In this case, [I] really followed the guidelines. It's made a difference in terms of my recovery."
Olczyk's ordeal was longer. He had surgery Aug. 4, began chemotherapy Sept. 12 and had his final session Feb. 19. Olczyk, who is also a TV analyst for the Blackhawks, announced he was cancer-free during the Vancouver Canucks' 5-2 win against the Blackhawks at United Center on March 22.
Emrick provided great support for McGuire and Olczyk. McGuire said he often confided in Emrick because they each had prostate cancer; McGuire told Emrick of his diagnosis several months before going public. Emrick announced McGuire's illness during the telecast of the Blackhawks-Minnesota Wild game on NBCSN on Jan. 10.
"I really couldn't talk much to Eddie about what he was going through, except to share with him best thoughts and prayers, and I still do," McGuire said. "Eddie's cancer was different than mine. Doc's was similar, and he was amazing in terms of talking and keeping it confidential."
For Olczyk, Emrick added a spiritual element. Wherever he traveled, Emrick went to a church in that city and lit a candle.
"It hasn't been exclusive to Eddie; there have been other people, too," Emrick said. "You can say it or text it, but it struck me a few years ago that it was a tangible way of showing that someone was in your prayers."
Emrick also sent Olczyk the number of a sports figure to coincide with Olczyk's chemotherapy session. As Olczyk approached his 10th treatment, Emrick sent him a picture of Ron Santo, the late Hall of Fame third baseman for the Chicago Cubs who wore No. 10.
"He sent me a saddle cloth of a horse with a No. 7. Leave it to Doc to find a saddle cloth of a horse," Olczyk said. "Those candles Doc would light, or him sending a No. 2 or No. 5 or No. 9, it was like, 'It's OK. Here we are, just keep chipping away.'"
Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire don't work together as often this season on NBC's "Wednesday Night Hockey" (formerly "Wednesday Night Rivalry") coverage. Emrick and Olczyk work with Brian Boucher in early games, and McGuire works the second game with John Forslund or Chris Cuthbert.
Whether they're together or apart, however, they'll always be connected by their experiences with cancer.
"You think about how all three of us have had different battles with the same disease," Olczyk said. "We're tied in in a lot of different ways. We've all had different fights with it and at different times, but that's the real world. And hopefully when people look at us, it's not only as hockey guys but also cancer survivors. Someone can look at us and say, 'Hey, if the guys on 'NHL on NBC' can do it, why can't I?'"
