MSG Networks Celebrates 50 Years of NHL Coverage b

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN ) announced that legendary NHL play-by-play voice Jiggs McDonald will return to the broadcast booth tonight to celebrate his 50 ^th year calling NHL action.  McDonald, a Foster Hewitt Memorial Award recipient from the Hockey Hall of Fame, will call tonight’s Islanders/Panthers game on MSG+ at 7pm and will appear on the pregame show at 6:30pm as well.

McDonald began calling games in 1967 as the voice of the expansion Los Angeles Kings. In 1980, McDonald joined the New York Islanders broadcast team as play-by-play announcer and spent 15 seasons with the Islanders, during which time the team won three Stanley Cups. 

Ed Westfall, who spent all 15 years alongside McDonald as the Islanders’ color commentator, said: “For his fans, Jiggs’ unique talent could make a mundane game spectacular. Congratulations on a Golden Career. You have given all hockey fans much to cheer about.”

“For 21 years I called New York Islanders games with very sore feet. 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,” said Howie Rose, former MSG Networks’ New York Islanders play-by-play announcer. “Today, with comfortably secured ankles, I am thrilled to salute Jiggs on 50 years of NHL broadcasting brilliance.”

McDonald will be honored with a ceremonial puck drop and will then take over play-by-play duties from current Islanders’ play-by-play announcer Brendan Burke. 

Burke, who is in his first season with the Islanders, said of McDonald: “Jiggs is a hockey Hall of Famer, a legend in broadcasting and a great role model. This Islanders broadcast will be extremely special and I’m honored to have the chance to sit beside Jiggs as he makes his magic.”

The telecast will also include Burke interviewing McDonald as they travel together to Barclays Center via the Long Island Railroad, along with a retrospective on McDonald’s historic career.  

About MSG Networks Inc. An industry leader in sports production, and content development and distribution, MSG Networks Inc. owns and operates two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network (MSG) and MSG+, and a live streaming and video on demand platform, MSG GO. The networks are home to 10 professional sports teams, delivering live games of the New York Knicks; New York Rangers; New York Islanders; New Jersey Devils; Buffalo Sabres; New York Liberty; New York Red Bulls and the Westchester Knicks, as well as coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.  Each year, MSG and MSG+ collectively telecast approximately 500 live professional games, along with a comprehensive lineup of other sporting events, including college football and basketball, and critically-acclaimed original programming. The gold standard for regional broadcasting, MSG Networks has won 145 New York Emmy Awards over the past nine years.

Dan Schoenberg / 212-465-6367 Alyssa Ross / 212-324-3401 Bill Hanousek / 212-465-6591