Whom You Know: #WhomWeMiss @NHL #BarryMelrose #NHLPeachy Commissioner Bettman Statement on the Passing of Barry Melrose

Thursday, September 10, 2026

#WhomWeMiss @NHL #BarryMelrose #NHLPeachy Commissioner Bettman Statement on the Passing of Barry Melrose

National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman today released the following statement regarding the passing of Barry Melrose:

“From the flowing locks of his distinctive mullet to the flared lapels of his trademark long suit coats, Barry Melrose cut an unmistakable figure whenever you were fortunate enough to run into him at a rink or catch him on your television screen. You were even more fortunate if you engaged him in conversation or listened to his analysis, because he never failed to boost your love of the game of hockey.

“A rangy and rugged defenseman from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Barry fashioned an 11-year pro career in the NHL, AHL and WHA. But it was as a coach, who guided the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, and as a broadcaster, who spent 27 years at ESPN, that he truly made his mark upon the game. And during those countless encounters over the years with players, coaches, fans and viewers who couldn’t help but be drawn in by his enthusiasm.

“We mourn the passing of a hockey original. And we send our deepest condolences to his wife, Cindy, their sons, Tyrell and Adrien, and all of his teammates, colleagues and admirers around the hockey world.”

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"Peachy Deegan is a true New York original. Once you meet her you’ll never forget her. Curious and insightful. Full of questions. A great writer, able to vividly describe the people and places she goes. A lover of the city and all its fascinating people. Peachy loves to eat out, trying all cuisines and meeting with the chefs and owners of restaurants throughout the city. Peachy loves fashion, attends the shows and becomes familiar with the people behind the collections, designers and principals. Peachy thinks it’s important to support locally owned businesses and knows the owners of so many of them. And if you’re ever followed Peachy for a while you know she loves sports, especially ice hockey. I’ve known Peachy since the earliest days of whomyouknow.com and it’s been a pleasure." -Jeff Levy,President,Attitudes Footwear,Paul Mayer/Attitudes

"It’s an honor to be included in Peachy Deegan’s Whom You Know website. I’ve known Peachy Deegan for many years now and it’s always a delight to work with her. She’s professional and a terrific journalist -always searching for compelling topics and people doing noteworthy things to share with her readers. Her passion, tireless determination and persistence is inspiring and truly commendable. It’s why she’s able to provide diverse topics and engaging stories. She’s also delightfully skilled in capturing the personalities of her topics and I found her questions to be thought-provoking and fun to answer. Thank you, Peachy Deegan, for featuring me and my company- and for all the other countless interesting stories and people that I’ve enjoyed reading and learning about.” -Mover and Shaker Pamela Friedman CEO of her own skincare brand, CV Skinlabs

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Peachy Deegan, Editor-in-Chief of Whom You Know. From the moment she reached out to us with the opportunity to participate in a panel review of our lip balms, Peachy has been nothing short of extraordinary. She is a sharp, quick decision maker and a truly excellent journalist. Her enthusiasm for highlighting emerging brands like ours is not only refreshing but incredibly meaningful. As a small company, we deeply appreciate her sincere interest in helping us grow. Peachy has been both encouraging and supportive, offering thoughtful guidance that goes beyond just a review—she’s provided insight that will help shape our future goals. We are truly thankful for her involvement and the meaningful role she’s played in amplifying our voice. Her support has made a lasting difference in our journey. Sean and I are truly grateful for all your help and guidance." -Jill Morrissey, Owner/Partner, It’s The Balm Diggity LLC

"It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and Peachy Deegan and I were recommended to each other by another Washington DC entrepreneur and we had a terrific positive experience with her first review of Boss Shepherd's in the Warner Theatre in 2015 where I was awarded Peachy's Picks status after our first meeting, and enjoyed further accolades that we earned in 2016 when we reunited. The cream does rise to the top and the best of the best often know each other and we discovered we had a mutual friend in Charles Kipps (Hustle!), as I was the manager for Peaches and Herb and I like that Peachy covers music and in particular the Recording Academy in New York Notes (over 1,000 music posts to date) and I loved her coverage of the Beatles AI release last fall, Now and Then. Peachy's superlative style of writing and winning personality make Whom You Know the success it has been and will continue to be, and I have been pleased to recommend her to entrepreneurs I know." -Paul J. Cohn, Chair Emeritus of the Resturant Association of Maryland Washington (RAMW)

"Working with Peachy Deegan and Whom You Know has been one of the smartest decisions we’ve made for our brand. Not everyone fully understands the power of social media and how it can elevate a business—but Peachy has been showing that since 2009. She’s helped countless brands grow by educating the public and industry professionals alike. Many people have become smarter about their online presence because of her consistent, thoughtful work.Peachy is incredibly detail-oriented and accurate when it comes to facts. She does not rush through anything—she takes her time and gives every subject the attention it deserves. Her reviews go beyond surface-level impressions. She carefully tests and monitors everything from food presentation to taste and preparation. Her dedication is real, and it shows. When she featured our restaurant Biricchino and our salami and deli shop Salumeria Biellese, it became clear just how invested she is in our story. She values the heritage and craftsmanship that go into our food, and she took time to learn about our history and traditions. She’s enthusiastic about our success and genuinely cares about where we’ve been and where we’re going. Thanks to her feature, we’ve seen stronger engagement online and a clearer digital presence. She has helped shape how we appear to the world and has made sure we are represented with professionalism, authenticity, and pride. We are proud to say that Peachy will absolutely be included in our 100-year anniversary celebration. Her knowledge, care, and commitment to excellence have had a lasting impact on us. She knows what she’s doing. She delivers. And we are so grateful to have her in our corner." -With appreciation, The Team at Biricchino & Salumeria Biellese, Fouad Alsharif

"In the wide world of the internet which is only growing, there is no one as well-versed in quality in the English language as Peachy Deegan. We are proud to have partnered with Whom You Know for over a decade (read the first review here) and though Whom You Know has significant accolades in the culinary industry, Peachy Deegan goes beyond to cover the greatest sport on earth, hockey in NHL Peachy including fabulous videos with Sidney Crosby and the sensational Warmies, beloved by kids! I think there are around 200 columns so there is something for everyone. We await new stories with enthusiasm as no one has greater ability to detect the latest and greatest and keep up with it on top of that in 28,000 posts plus over 14 years. We are so proud to have been named Best in Show in the New York Produce show by Whom You Know for many years and we love seeing her there." -John Slagel, Regional Director East Coast, Sunkist Growers