Sad news from New York where lifelong P. A. announcer Jerry Sopp lost his battle with cancer, he was 47.

Jerry Sopp Obituary

Sopp, who was the P. A. announcer for the National Women’s Hockey League’s New York Riveters in the league’s inaugural season was also the voice of many hockey teams in New York and New Jersey, including his son’s Woodbridge High School Barons hockey team.  The Barons featured Sopp’s son Darren who was a member of the team.

Thoughts are with the @NYRiveters family on the loss of their PA announcer, Jerry Sopp. Always tough to lose a member of the #PABrotherhood.

— Ryan Burgess (@Burgmania87) July 22, 2016

Sopp also announced junior and college hockey games for Rutgers University and had just celebrated a birthday a month ago today.  He began announcing for the New Jersey Youth Hockey League’s Woodbridge Wolfpack and then became the voice for the Greater Middlesex Conference by announcing games for all the teams in the conference.  His junior hockey career took him to Brooklyn and Long Island

WoodbridgeWolfpack.com:  Jerry Sopp – You Will Be Missed!

The U. S. Navy veteran requested those attending services on Wednesday, August 3 at the Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home to wear a hockey jersey, or any other sports-related jersey if the guests do not have a hockey jersey.  The services will begin at 7 p.m. at 275 W. Milton Avenue in Rahway, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to www.gofundme.com on behalf of his son Darren’s college fund.