Jiggs McDonald, a prominent figure in hockey broadcasting and former voice of the New York Islanders, was recently inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame. McDonald, who has also received the Foster Hewitt broadcasting award and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was recognized for his long-standing contributions to the sport during a ceremony in Troy, New York.
McDonald’s influence on hockey broadcasting is widely acknowledged by colleagues and industry professionals. Kenny Albert, lead play-by-play announcer for TNT, said, “For a young, aspiring broadcaster like me, Jiggs was better than a textbook. His knowledge, cadence, style and terrific rapport with his sidekick Eddie Westfall were just some of his Hall of Fame attributes.”
Matt Loughlin, radio play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Devils, also praised McDonald’s mentorship. “When I was a rookie on the local broadcast scene, Jiggs already was a veteran,” Loughlin recalled. “He could have treated me in a ‘sink or swim’ manner. Instead, he regarded me with respect as if I was a longtime member of the crew. This titan of the industry built my confidence and helped me along my career path.”
McDonald began his career inspired by broadcasters such as Foster Hewitt and Danny Gallivan. He entered NHL broadcasting with the Los Angeles Kings before moving to call games for the Atlanta Flames and later joining SportsChannel to cover Islanders games alongside Ed Westfall.
Richard Torrey shared insights about McDonald’s impact on the Islanders organization: “My Dad (GM Bill Torrey) considered Jiggs the best of the best. Bow Tie Bill saw McDonald as a steady, calming presence who always had just the perfect comment, observation or story. Personally, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love the man. And, by the way, (Islanders coach) Al Arbour also loved Jiggs.”
During his tenure starting in 1980 with SportsChannel covering Islanders games after their first Stanley Cup win over Philadelphia Flyers, McDonald witnessed several key moments in team history including multiple Stanley Cup victories and notable draft picks such as Mike Bossy and John Tonelli.
Reflecting on those years with the Islanders’ success during playoff runs in 1981 through 1983—including their record-setting fourth consecutive Stanley Cup—McDonald stated: “Looking backward at the Islanders success, I’d like to thank those 14 teams that failed to select Mike Bossy before the Islanders called his name in the 1977 Draft. Then, 19 picks later, John Tonelli was available to the Islanders as well.” He added comparisons to more recent drafts involving Mathew Barzal.
The partnership between McDonald and Westfall became well-regarded among fans and critics alike for its blend of analysis and humor. According to Rich Torrey: “My Dad loved him like a brother,” emphasizing how closely integrated McDonald became within both team culture and fan experience.
Allan Kreda from Associated Press remarked on McDonald’s unique style: “I always loved the crescendo in Jiggs voice when the Islanders scored,” calling him “one for the ages.”
Loughlin summarized McDonald’s legacy simply: “He made the broadcast fun!”
