Links - JD Was One of the Best Hockey Broadcasters Ever - North River Minor Hockey Association

JD Was One of the Best Hockey Broadcasters EverMSGcom Madison Square Garden Radio City Music Hall WaMu Theater at MSG Beacon Theatre The Chicago Theatre MSG Insider NY Knicks NY Rangers NY Liberty MSGcomSign In Become an Insider Entertainment100 Best Shows at MSGZ100s Jingle Ball 2009Frank SinatraJayZJohn MayerRadio City ChristmasTaylor SwiftWintuk from CirqueCountry MusicThe FanCamSportsAll SportsNew York KnicksNew York RangersNew York IslandersNew Jersey DevilsNFL CoverageMLB CoverageCollege BasketballCollege FootballHorse RacingVideoMSG OnDemandRangers OnDemandKnicks OnDemandLiberty OnDemandMSG Networks OnDemandLocal Sports OnDemandPhotosBlogsGame On!Check the MonitorCommunityKnicks City DancersThe Garden of DreamsMessage BoardsKnicksNetBlueshirts UnitedFantasy GamesFacebookTwitterMySpaceTelevisionMSGMSG PlusMSG2 MSG Plus2Network TalentMobileGet TicketsRadio City ChristmasWintuk from CirqueJD Was One of the Best Hockey Broadcasters EverFormer Blueshirts TV analyst heads to the Hall of FamePosted on Sunday November 8 2009 at 430 PMBy Stan FischlerIts hard to imagine a more deserving winner of the Hockey Hall of Fames Foster Hewitt Award than John Davidson goaltenderextraordinaire until injuries crippled his playing careerThus it would be both safe and ironic to say that hockeys loss was broadcastings gainBroadcasting never was on my mind when I was playing goal the man we call JD once told me My focus was on winning hockey gamesFrom the getgo as a firstround Draft pick of the St Louis Blues in 1973 Davidson appeared headed toward the NHL stratosphere and maybe even a Vezina Trophy or two with his talent and sizeAt 63 and more than 200 pounds JD not only filled the crease but also had the agility to go with his physique At the tender age of 20 he became a regular with the Blues He became the first goaltender in history to make the NHL straight from the Junior ranksBut by 1975 the Blues needed forwards and exchanged Davidson and Bill Collins for the Rangers Ted Irvine Bert Wilson and Jerry ButlerJD played 56 games in his first season as a Ranger but was not in the spotlight as much as he would be at the start of the 19781979 seasonHe had matured as a goalie by that time and fans would frequently rock The Garden with chants of JD JDUnfortunately a spate of injuries already had infected his promising career but by the time the 1979 playoffs had begun Rangers coach Fred Shero had made it clear that JD would be his starting goalieIt was a wise move Davidson starred in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings and was even better in the second round series with Philadelphia Over five games John allowed the Flyers a paltry eight goals moving New York into a titanic series with the hated New York IslandersWith three of the leagues top six scorers the Isles were heavy favorites but by this time JD was at th...