Joe Micheletti

Joseph Robert Micheletti (born October 24, 1954 in International Falls, Minnesota) is a hockey analyst and reporter. He is also a retired NHL and WHA defenseman who played in 142 WHA games with Calgary and Edmonton between 1977 and 1979, and 158 NHL games with St. Louis and Colorado between 1979 and 1982. He is the brother of former NHL player Pat Micheletti.

Amateur career

Joe Micheletti was raised in Hibbing, Minnesota where he attended Hibbing High School. He played college hockey for the legendary Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the 1974 and 1976 national championship teams. He broke team records set by Lou Nanne in both assists and points in his senior year, and was also the most valuable player of the 1976 NCAA finals.

Professional career

Originally drafted 123rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft, Micheletti instead chose to start his professional career in the rival World Hockey Association with the Calgary Cowboys in 1977. He also made his international debut for the United States national team at the 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Vienna. As a professional, Joe played in 142 WHA games, mainly with the Edmonton Oilers, totalling 31 goals and 70 assists. He joined the NHL's St. Louis Blues for the 1979–80 season and later concluded his career with the Colorado Rockies. His NHL career totals were 11–60–71 in 158 games. His playing career ended in the spring of 1982, where he was a member of the United States team at the 1982 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Helsinki.

Broadcasting career

Over the years, he has worked as a ice level reporter or color analyst for FOX, ABC/ESPN, and NBC broadcasts of the NHL. Micheletti worked the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 1994 Winter Olympics with Jiggs McDonald for TNT and also worked the 1998 Winter Olympics for CBS. During his time with NBC, he covered hockey at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Olympics, paired mainly with Kenny Albert. In 2009, he became an analyst for NHL on Versus.

On the local level, Micheletti first worked as a color anayst for the Minnesota North Stars during the 1991-92 season, partnering with Dave Hodge on television broadcasts for that one season. He later moved on to the St. Louis Blues where he partnered with Dan Kelly on radio and later with Ken Wilson on television, followed by a lengthy stint with the New York Islanders, where he worked with Howie Rose. In 2006, Micheletti became the New York Rangers color analyst on MSG Network, partnered with Sam Rosen. He replaced long-time analyst and former Ranger John Davidson, who had departed to take a position with the St. Louis Blues as Team President. He is a source of all hockey information for top New York City talk show host Mike Francesa and is affectionately called "Mickle Eddie".