Billy Jaffe
Encyclopedia
Billy Jaffe is the former color analyst
for the New York Islanders
on MSG Plus
. He is a color analyst and reporter for nationally televised hockey games on Versus
.
from 1987–1989. He has also served as team-captain for the silver medal winning team USA at the Maccabiah Games
held in Israel in 1997.
for the Chicago Blackhawks
during the 1998–99 season. After spending the 1999–2000 season as the Radio and Television Analyst for the Chicago Wolves
of the International Hockey League, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers
in September 2000. During his tenure with the Thrashers, he served primarily as the radio analyst, but also contributed to the Thrashers television coverage.
In addition to his work with the Thrashers, in October 2001, Jaffe served as color commentator for Fox Sports Net's coverage of the Cold War
game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State which took place in outdoor Spartan Stadium
on the Michigan State Campus. Jaffe took on another role acting as lead analyst for CSTV's Friday Night Hockey game of the week. He also served as a fill-in host on the Atlanta Braves
studio show on TBS Superstation.
In 2006, Jaffe replaced Joe Micheletti, who moved on to the New York Rangers
booth, as New York Islanders
color analyst alongside Howie Rose
. He works for NHL on Versus
as an analyst and reporter during regular season and playoff broadcasts.
He has been working on Versus for 5 years and has built a strong reputation around the NHL and with fans, adding work with VERSUS and appearing on the popular NHL On The Fly and NHL Live on XM/Sirius that was simulcast on NHL Network.
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on MSG Plus
MSG Plus
MSG Plus is a regional sports network in the New York City metropolitan area, whose reach expands to cover the entire state of New York, Northern New Jersey, Southwestern Connecticut, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The network was rebranded on March 10, 2008.Like its sister network, MSG, it is...
. He is a color analyst and reporter for nationally televised hockey games on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
.
Playing career
Jaffe played hockey for the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1987–1989. He has also served as team-captain for the silver medal winning team USA at the Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
held in Israel in 1997.
Broadcasting career
Jaffe began his broadcasting career as an analyst on the pre-game, intermission and post-game radio showRadio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
during the 1998–99 season. After spending the 1999–2000 season as the Radio and Television Analyst for the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
of the International Hockey League, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
in September 2000. During his tenure with the Thrashers, he served primarily as the radio analyst, but also contributed to the Thrashers television coverage.
In addition to his work with the Thrashers, in October 2001, Jaffe served as color commentator for Fox Sports Net's coverage of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State which took place in outdoor Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing)
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Michigan State University Spartans...
on the Michigan State Campus. Jaffe took on another role acting as lead analyst for CSTV's Friday Night Hockey game of the week. He also served as a fill-in host on the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
studio show on TBS Superstation.
In 2006, Jaffe replaced Joe Micheletti, who moved on to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
booth, as New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
color analyst alongside Howie Rose
Howie Rose
Howie Rose is an American sportscaster. He is currently the radio voice of the New York Mets on WFAN, and the television announcer for the New York Islanders on MSG Plus.-Early life and career:...
. He works for NHL on Versus
NHL on Versus
The NHL on Versus was the former branding used for National Hockey League games broadcast on Versus. Versus became the NHL's cable partner in the United States beginning in the 2005-06 season from previous partner ESPN, providing coverage of regular season games, playoff games, and select games...
as an analyst and reporter during regular season and playoff broadcasts.
He has been working on Versus for 5 years and has built a strong reputation around the NHL and with fans, adding work with VERSUS and appearing on the popular NHL On The Fly and NHL Live on XM/Sirius that was simulcast on NHL Network.