![\"Jeff](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rimer-Shelley-1200x900.jpg\")
Shelley credits Jeff Rimer for helping him get started in broadcasting. (Photo credit: Mark Scheig, The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\nJody Shelley has had one of the more interesting careers of any NHL player. His first game established what was to come in what turned into a 627-game NHL career along with nine postseason games.<\/p>\n
In his NHL debut in the inaugural 2000-01 season of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Shelley did something that is still talked about to this day. In just 1:33 of ice time, he got into two fights and secured 10 penalty minutes.<\/p>\n
Shelley quickly became a fan favorite with the Blue Jackets. Known for his toughness and consistent trips to the penalty box, he retired in 2013 with at the time the most regular-season major penalties for fighting. <\/p>\n
Shelley spent time with the Sharks, Rangers and Flyers in his career. But it was the parts of seven seasons with the Blue Jackets in which he\u2019s most remembered for. He never scored more than three goals in a season. He averaged just over six minutes per game of ice time in his career. In that time, he amassed 1,538 penalty minutes or one penalty minute for every two minutes and 30 seconds of ice time he saw. <\/p>\n
Shelley\u2019s role was easily seen. It was a tough job but one in which he always rose to the occasion when the moment called for it. That\u2019s why he had the ultimate respect of other players then and has their respect now in his current role.<\/p>\n
Shelley Turns to Broadcasting<\/p>\n
Shelley retired from the NHL in August 2013. It was then that he re-joined the Blue Jackets\u2019 organization as a team ambassador and broadcast associate. He\u2019s been with the team since.<\/p>\n
Blue Jackets\u2019 fans know Shelley for all the years of broadcasting excellence he\u2019s had. First with Jeff Rimer and Bob McElligott and now with Steve Mears, Shelley has been an important voice of the Blue Jackets since he retired as a player. <\/p>\n
Just as with all people in their jobs, everyone has to start somewhere. It was no different with Shelley. His rise to the broadcast booth started as a player with different conversations with those on the teams he was on. <\/p>\n
Looking back now, Shelley credits several individuals with helping him get to where he is today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI credit Jeff Rimer a lot,\u201d Shelley said. \u201cI would always talk to Jeff about what he was doing and he thought it would be something to look at post-hockey. When you\u2019re in it, you don\u2019t really think that way. But I started getting curious about it. And then was I was in Philadelphia, I hung out with Bill Clement and we had Keith Jones on the plane. I wasn\u2019t playing much. I was doing a little stuff with Paul Holmgren there. And when I retired, I thought \u2018Well, I want to be in hockey operations.\u2019 But really it was John Davidson who said \u2018There\u2019s nothing for you in hockey operations.\u2019 Try broadcasting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that I wasn\u2019t really sure about it until I tried it with Bob McElligott on radio. And then I realized \u2018Oh, this is fun!’\u201d<\/p>\n
Shelley credits Jeff Rimer for helping him get started in broadcasting. (Photo credit: Mark Scheig, The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n
Fans will see Shelley between the benches for Wednesday Night\u2019s Game 3 between the Penguins and Flyers on TNT. Kenny Albert and Brian Boucher will have the call of the game. <\/p>\n
Shelley credits both Albert and Boucher for helping him become a better analyst. But there was one person Shelley went out of his way to mention that\u2019s been a huge influence for him and his broadcasting career. To this day, this individual still helps him.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe Whalen also,\u201d Shelley said. \u201cI have to mention him. He was a huge help with me and my career. All my producers have been great, but Joe Whalen was really good and he still helps me today. He was a producer with MSG. Davidson had him at MSG Network with the Rangers. We brought him in here for a (few years.) I still talk to him quite regularly just about the landscape and what I should be doing. And I have a few mentors too that help me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shelley\u2019s Multiple Roles & Humility<\/p>\n
Shelley in recent years has risen to prominence in the broadcast booth. A big reason for that? He\u2019s generally doing something everyday in different parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Besides being the color analyst for the Blue Jackets, Shelley is in that role on Amazon Prime Hockey Monday in Canada alongside John Forslund. Then depending on the week, Shelley might find himself on assignment on TNT.<\/p>\n
There was one week in which Shelley was in Vancouver on a Monday night then flew cross country to meet the Blue Jackets in Florida on a Tuesday. Wednesday then saw him on TNT doing a national broadcast. On Thursday, he was back with the Blue Jackets getting ready for their next game. <\/p>\n
Shelley is always on the move. The way he grinds is noticed by many. Few work as hard and prepare as much as he does while putting in the miles he does on a weekly basis. <\/p>\n
And yet, it\u2019s the grind that Shelley likes about his role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the work,\u201d Shelley said. \u201cI like talking to players, talking to coaches. And of course, it\u2019s a privilege to be around the National Hockey League. So it\u2019s one of those things that I like being at the rink. I like having conversations about hockey and I love being in the NHL.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the biggest things any broadcast has to accomplish is keeping fans engaged and informed about what\u2019s going on during play. In Shelley\u2019s role, he has a lot to consider when delivering what he wants to say. <\/p>\n
To him, it\u2019s being able to tell the full story of what\u2019s going on beyond just what you see on your TV set. That\u2019s what he hopes fans get from him. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a combination of entertainment, educating and just bringing them the story of the game,\u201d Shelley said. \u201cI want to make sure each game that the fans that are watching closely get the story of what happened, why the team won or lost or what the situation was throughout that night.\u201d <\/p>\n
Shelley has carved himself out a great post-hockey career. He will continue to become a more prominent voice including in this year\u2019s playoffs on TNT. In the end, it\u2019s the way he respects the game and the people in it that have him in a great position as being one of hockey\u2019s best TV analysts going. <\/p>\n
\u201cI respect the NHL and the people in it and always have,\u201d Shelley said. \u201cI feel like we all do. I\u2019m just humbled to be around this league everyday and contribute where ever I can. It\u2019s not about me. It never has been. I\u2019m blessed to be able to be in this position and I thoroughly enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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