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Phil Esposito on late Alan Thicke: 'I miss that guy'

There aren't many people that can get Phil Esposito to sing.

The late Alan Thicke did.

Esposito, the Hall of Famer and Lightning founder, has been friends with Thicke since the early 1970s, the two growing up about 40 minutes apart in Ontario. When Thicke wrote a song called "Hockey Sock Rock" in 1979, with proceeds going to juvenile diabetes research, he talked the Rangers star to participate with five teammates. Esposito had lead vocals, and it raised $750,000.

"I didn't want to do it," Esposito Friday, laughing. "(Thicke) said, 'Phil, you can do this. I have faith in you.