Jiggs McDonald to call Islanders game Wednesday
Islanders former play-by-play voice and Hockey Hall of Fame member Jiggs McDonald talks to those in attendance during a memorial service held for former Islanders head coach Al Arbour at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow on Aug. 29, 2016. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Jiggs McDonald will call Wednesday night’s game between the Panthers and Islanders from Barclays Center on MSG Plus, part of of the network’s celebration of his 50 years as an NHL play-by-play man.
McDonald, 78, was the Islanders’ primary TV play-by-play man for 15 years starting in 1980 — a stretch that covered their three most recent Stanley Cup championships. He will sit in for Brendan Burke, who is in his first season since succeeding Howie Rose in that role.
“For 21 years I called New York Islanders games with very sore feet,” Rose said in a statement. “That’s what happens when you try to get around in a pair of shoes that are simply too big. Those shoes belonged to my Hall of Fame predecessor, Jiggs McDonald, the eternal voice of the Islanders. Today, with comfortably secured ankles, I am thrilled to salute Jiggs on 50 years of NHL broadcasting brilliance.”
Before calling Islanders games, McDonald covered the Los Angeles Kings starting in 1967.
McDonald also will appear on the MSG Plus pregame show Wednesday night and will drop the ceremonial first puck before the game.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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