Islanders: Watch Jiggs McDonald and Stan Fischler Share Coliseum Memories

Legendary Islanders broadcaster, Jiggs McDonald turns 82 today. Let’s look back at Jiggs and Stan Fischler talking favorite Coliseum memories.

When thinking of legendary broadcasters, Jiggs McDonald has to be towards the top of that list. He broadcasted hockey for over 50 years and spent a solid chunk of the Islanders glory years calling their games.

After starting with the Kings and Flames, Jiggs made his way to Long Island in the 1980 season to take over as the play by play announcer. In his first three seasons, the Isles won Stanley Cups and returned to a fourth in his fourth year. Talk about a great start to your career in New York.

For 15 seasons, Jiggs was behind the microphone. He’d call over 200 playoff games during his time as a play by play announcer, which is truly a remarkable thing.

Well, today is his 82nd birthday, and what better way to honor the legend than by reliving a great moment between Jiggs and Stan Fischler.

To hear these two legends go back and forth was truly a treat. At first Jiggs describes what it was like to call a game at the Coliseum from the last row, which I’m sure must’ve been a real treat.

I also thoroughly enjoyed his story on how the broadcasters were given scores, pre-internet days. It makes you appreciate how easy we have it now compared to what it was like some 40 years ago for these guys.

Here’s one of McDonald’s most famous calls during the 1984 season when Ken Morrow scored an OT winner over the Rangers to help the Islanders advance to take on the Capitals :

When looking back on his body of work with the Islanders there are really so many moments you could choose to watch, but on his birthday, I prefer to just listen to him tell stories and talk old-time hockey with Stan Fischler.

Happy birthday Jiggs! Hope you’re enjoying retirement.