Jiggs McDonald
Encyclopedia
John Kenneth "Jiggs" McDonald (born November 28, 1938) is a sportscaster who did play-by-play announcing for NHL
games for almost 40 years. In 1990, McDonald received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
from the Hockey Hall of Fame
.
In November 2003, he announced his 3,000th regular season game; his number of games called is thought to be the highest by an NHL announcer. He was the original voice of both the Los Angeles Kings
, where he was nearly paired with Al Michaels
, and the Atlanta Flames
, where Bernie Geoffrion
served as his broadcasting partner.
When the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, McDonald joined the New York Islanders
broadcast team as play-by-play announcer, taking over for Steve Albert
; former Islanders captain
Ed Westfall
was the color commentator. McDonald spent 15 seasons as the Islanders' play-by-play man, and the team won three Stanley Cup
s during the period. Including national work, as well as work for other teams, McDonald called the play-by-play of over 200 NHL playoff games.
Although he was not the announcer for the first (1980) Stanley Cup championship team, McDonald hosted the New York Islanders
' 25th anniversary celebration in 2006.
In future years, McDonald did play-by-play on Toronto Maple Leafs
telecasts and Florida Panthers
radio broadcasts. Following the 2003–04 season he retired, but he substituted for Dave Strader
when the latter was on NHL on NBC assignments on Panther telecasts during the 2005–06 season. Since the 2006–07 season, he has returned to call Islanders games on MSG Network
, filling in occasionally for Howie Rose
(when Rose is on vacation or doing New York Mets
games on WFAN
). With his Islanders work in 2010 and 2011, he called hockey games across six decades.
McDonald also did broadcasts on nationally televised NHL games for numerous networks. Notably, he called games for SportsChannel America
for five years, during which the channel was the rights-holder for national NHL telecasts. In addition, he broadcast the Winter Olympics
for ABC
and TNT
, announcing at three Games.
In addition, he filled in for Florida Panthers
radio play-by-play man Randy Moller
for three games when Moller became ill in January 2010.
Major League Baseball
team in . In 1992, he did play-by-play on CTV
for Olympic basketball
games.
, only to be stranded in Bangkok
, Thailand
in late November and early December for a week in the wake of the 2008 Thai political crisis
that resulted in the takeover of two commercial airports in Bangkok by pro-democracy activists.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games for almost 40 years. In 1990, McDonald received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award is an award named after Foster Hewitt and presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of ice hockey during their broadcasting career...
from the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
.
National Hockey League broadcasting career
McDonald began his NHL broadcasting career in 1967, as the voice of the expansion Los Angeles Kings.In November 2003, he announced his 3,000th regular season game; his number of games called is thought to be the highest by an NHL announcer. He was the original voice of both the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, where he was nearly paired with Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
, and the Atlanta Flames
Atlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the...
, where Bernie Geoffrion
Bernie Geoffrion
Joseph André Bernard Geoffrion , nicknamed Boom Boom, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Generally considered as one of the innovators of the slapshot, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 following a 16-year career with the Montreal Canadiens and New York...
served as his broadcasting partner.
When the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, McDonald joined 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...
broadcast team as play-by-play announcer, taking over for Steve Albert
Steve Albert
Steve Albert is a sportscaster. He has served as a play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, New York Mets, and Cleveland Cavaliers...
; former Islanders captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
Ed Westfall
Ed Westfall
Edwin Vernon "Shadow" Westfall is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders from 1961 until 1978–79...
was the color commentator. McDonald spent 15 seasons as the Islanders' play-by-play man, and the team won three Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s during the period. Including national work, as well as work for other teams, McDonald called the play-by-play of over 200 NHL playoff games.
Although he was not the announcer for the first (1980) Stanley Cup championship team, McDonald hosted 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...
' 25th anniversary celebration in 2006.
In future years, McDonald did play-by-play on Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
telecasts and Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
radio broadcasts. Following the 2003–04 season he retired, but he substituted for Dave Strader
Dave Strader
Dave Strader is an American sportscaster and currently is the #2 play-by-play announcer for NHL on NBC and NHL on Versus...
when the latter was on NHL on NBC assignments on Panther telecasts during the 2005–06 season. Since the 2006–07 season, he has returned to call Islanders games on MSG Network
MSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
, filling in occasionally for 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:...
(when Rose is on vacation or doing New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
games on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
). With his Islanders work in 2010 and 2011, he called hockey games across six decades.
McDonald also did broadcasts on nationally televised NHL games for numerous networks. Notably, he called games for SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America was a cable television network operated by Cablevision. It was the country's first regional sports network, and thus an important ancestor to many of the United States' regional sports outlets, especially Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. SportsChannel New York was the...
for five years, during which the channel was the rights-holder for national NHL telecasts. In addition, he broadcast the Winter Olympics
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
, announcing at three Games.
In addition, he filled in for Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
radio play-by-play man Randy Moller
Randy Moller
Randall W. Moller is a retired professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the first round, eleventh overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1981 NHL entry draft. The majority of his career was spent with the Quebec Nordiques...
for three games when Moller became ill in January 2010.
Non-hockey related broadcasting
Outside of ice hockey, McDonald served as an announcer for the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team in . In 1992, he did play-by-play on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
for Olympic basketball
Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The Basketball games of the 1992 Summer Olympics were played at the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona. 12 men's teams and 8 women's teams participated in the tournament....
games.
Personal life
In late October 2008, McDonald and his wife were vacationing in AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, only to be stranded in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in late November and early December for a week in the wake of the 2008 Thai political crisis
2008 Thai political crisis
Since 2008, there has been an ongoing political crisis in Thailand in form of a conflict between the People's Alliance for Democracy and the People's Power Party governments of Prime Ministers Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sundaravej, respectively, and later between the Democrat Party government of...
that resulted in the takeover of two commercial airports in Bangkok by pro-democracy activists.