Why Kelly Chase is a national treasure
The St. Louis Blues legend is fighting leukemia again. My money is on Chaser.
I would listen to Kelly Chase read the phone book, giving off stories and recollections with each name or street. It could be three hours of nonstop phone book descriptions and scenarios, and the commentary would be more riveting than most radio shows and podcasts. The Blues alumni favorite-one of the most recognizable names and voices in St. Louis sports-joined former Blue, Cam Janssen, and Blues reporter, Andy Strickland, on their podcast this week.
Chase has been a guest three times now on the Cam and Strick Podcast, arguably the best hockey pod out there and easily one of the most entertainment weekly episodes. The thing with Chase is the gift of dialogue and expert storytelling. He can go from a memory of a fight to breaking down the stem cells and bone marrow that his brother just gave him this week for his second battle with leukemia. If cancer had any sense, it wouldn’t drop the gloves with a fighter like Chase for a second time.
Here’s the thing about Kelly: He never stopped fighting once he left the ice in his NHL career, with a heavy portion played right here in St. Louis. If you messed with Brett Hull, it would book a bout with either Chase or Tony Twist. If Twister beat the daylights out of you before one could know they’re in a fight, Chaser would outlast you before pummeling you. That’s something Janssen, another STL-bred (the first!) enforcer who had a big motor during fights, can appreciate.
After retiring as a player, he started fighting for the Blues and St Louis in the community, and on national and local airwaves. He fought for the respect of his fellow enforcers when he participated in Adam Scorgie’s documentary, Ice Guardians, spreading awareness for fighters who were being devalued. Chase never stopped fighting for the game of hockey.
The easygoing vibe on Cam and Strick’s pod makes the conversation with a personality like Chase’s easy to blossom over a near two-hour chat. Former players, coaches, and other minds around the game of hockey grace the pod each week, bringing something different. Outside of maybe Brett Hull and Chris Pronger, no one can challenge Chase for the best guest trophy, though. It’s unanimous. If he was on next week, I’d be ready to listen.
The past two appearances have carried a different tone, but only if you define it by subject matter. 98% of guests would put you to sleep or depress the shit out of you talking about the disease attempting to destroy their life, but Chaser puts it into terms that are too simple to not understand and gets rallying around him.
To him, it’s just another fight. A battle with an immortal enemy who makes too many visits to Earth. Chase is up for it, thanks to a legion of supporters and a great family, but also to an inner tenacity that we should all strive to reach.
It’s the chemotherapy that is getting extra punches in on Chase during his second tussle with leukemia. The five-year survival rate is 70%: Chaser makes it seem like 85%. It’s his approach to the diagnosis that personifies his personality and attitude towards any obstacle. There are certain people who know how to stay even-keeled in the face of insurmountable odds, and do so publicly in a convincing manner.
Chase described on the pod how he’s still able to go out and be around people who knew him when he was in a stronger state. It would be easy and acceptable for him to remain at home and just battle it out, but that wouldn’t be the guy who dishes more honesty than most players and pundits. He ran out of shits to give right when he ran out of NHL bearings to dish out.
Ask him about the current team and he’ll give you honesty. Ask him about the state of the game and it’s not a drab or phoned-in response. That kind of voice, unfortunately, doesn’t grow on trees. It is sticking around for another fight or two. At the age of 57, Chase feels more alive than ever, setting up another PUCK CANCER event for April 4, 2025. Last year’s event raised a ton of awareness and cash. It’s all Chase. People love him.
If you listen to one of his interviews with Janssen and Strickland, you’ll understand why he’s a national treasure.