(SUNRISE, FL) – Fox Sports Net and the Florida Panthers today announced
Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster Jiggs McDonald, who recently announced his retirement
after this season, will be honored throughout the regional sports network’s telecast
of the Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders game on March 17. Coverage begins
at 7:00 PM with Panther Preview, hosted by Fox Sports Net’s Craig
Minervini, followed by the game at 7:30 PM.
McDonald will call the play-by-play action throughout Fox Sports Net’s game
telecast, sitting alongside fellow Hockey Hall of Famer and former Islander’s
team captain Denis Potvin. The move to the broadcast booth for McDonald is in
recognition of his outstanding contribution to broadcasting and the sport of
hockey. McDonald’s career spans 37 years as an NHL announcer, with the past
five seasons as the Panther’s radio play-by-play voice on WQAM. Fox Sports Net’s
Panther play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimer will join color analyst Randy Moller
on WQAM’s broadcast of the game for the night.
"The Panthers vs. Islanders on St Patrick’s Day, with a television booth
full of Hockey Hall of Famers – it’s the perfect set-up to recognize and honor
one of the greatest hockey broadcasters of all time," said Jeff Genthner,
Senior Vice President and General Manager Fox Sports Net Florida. "The
Panthers, WQAM and our own Jeff Rimer have all graciously cooperated in this
effort to let hockey fans throughout South Florida share in this television
tribute to Jiggs."
McDonald’s broadcast career began in 1967 with the Los Angeles Kings expansion
team, then moved on to the Atlanta Flames in 1972. In 1980 he was hired by New
York Islanders President Bill Torrey where he spent 15-years and called three
of the Islander’s four Stanley Cup Championships. In 1995, McDonald went on
to serve as the television play-by-play broadcaster for the Toronto Maple
Leafs before moving to his current position as Panther’s radio play-by-play
broadcaster in 1999.
"I was thrilled when I heard about our plans to have Hall of Fame broadcaster,
Jiggs McDonald, joining me in the television booth with the Islanders in town,"
said Denis Potvin, Fox Sports Net’s Panthers Hockey color analyst. "We
spent a lot of time working together in New York and I have many, many fond
memories from those days. I think there will likely be as many Islanders fans,
as well as Panther fans, who will be sorry to see him go. He’s been a true professional
and an exceptional person to work with."
McDonald received national recognition in 1990 when he was inducted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame and won the Foster Hewitt Memorial award, which honors members
of the radio and television industry. McDonald has called more than 3,000 regular
season games, over 200 playoff contests and received two Emmy Awards throughout
his career.
"Jiggs is one of the most talented announcers in the history of the sport
and it has been my distinct pleasure working with him for the past five years.
He will be sorely missed by me personally and by the entire organization,"
said Randy Moller, Florida Panthers, Director of Broadcasting, Community Development
and game analyst for WQAM.
Fox Sports Net Florida reaches more than 4.9 million households in Florida.
Fox Sports Net Florida’s programming includes Major League Baseball’s Florida
Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers,
the University of Miami, and the University of South Florida, The Best Damn
Sports Show Period and NASCAR. Fox Sports Net Florida is managed by Rainbow
Sports Networks.
Rainbow Sports Networks is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, a subsidiary
of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Fox Sports Net reaches more than
80 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners,
equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC and Fox Entertainment Group. Rainbow
Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow’s 50% ownership in Fox Sports Net and Fox
Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net
regional networks in five of the nation’s largest markets: Chicago, San Francisco,
New England, Ohio and Florida.
Office Depot Center is the home of the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers
and host to more than 160 events annually. Owned by Broward County, the Office
Depot Center is the preeminent sports and entertainment venue in Florida and
among the best in the world, with more than 2 million customers entering its
doors annually. With upcoming shows such as Aerosmith, Shania Twain, Rudy Giuliani,
Disney on Ice and many others, 2004 promises to be the best year in the arena’s
six-year history.