The old saying in sports is, "There's always next year." However, for me at least, next year doesn't have the same hope and promise that usually does.
I have been very fortunate in my life. I haven't really had to deal with death close to me. But tonight, all of us in blue and orange mourn as one.
Throughout my life, the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum have been one of the few constants. Whenever I wanted to watch them, with the exception of a couple lockouts, they were there. When a relative died in 2003, I was scheduled to go to a game with my dad a few days later. I went to that game with an aunt, it seemed like a normal thing to do. To cope.
Now we mourn not just a loss, not just the end of a promising season, not even the end of an era, it's the end of a lifetime.
No building, not even a renovated Coliseum, will ever be the same as what we are leaving. What other arena in professional sports is called a barn? What other arena has hosted four consecutive Stanley Cup Champion teams?
The New York Islanders were the first team ever introduced into my life, and Nassau Coliseum became a home just 15 minutes away from home for me.
It's been a tremendous journey, and one I would not change for anything.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1972-2015
While now is the time to mourn, eventually that time will pass.
I went to my first New York Islanders game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, October 28, 2001. Now tomorrow, Sunday, April 19, 2015, I will go to what will very likely be my last Islanders game at Nassau Coliseum.
In that time, I've went to roughly 50-75 games, I can't put an exact number on it. My first game was a memorable one, click HEREto read more on that. But it has been a journey that has taught me many life lessons.
Mike Peca
When I first became an Islanders fan, I had joined the New York Islanders Booster Club. During that time, I learned about the Islanders and their storied past. I met legends such as Bob Nystrom, Clark Gillies, and Pat LaFontaine. I also met then current Islanders such as Mike Peca, Dave Scatchard and Mariusz Czerkawski, among others. I got my first autographs, asked questions, and came to learn that my favorite team was in my backyard. I was a member of the NYIBC until I was in middle school.
Mariusz Czerkawski
Pat LaFontaine
However, the Booster Club was only a part of my growing up. I went to games all the time, usually with my dad. There were stick days, hat days, mascot days, and many other promotions. Shortly after my first game, I had a hat, shirts, jersey, you name it. To this day, I have stack of books in my basement that has every Islanders yearbook since the 2001-02 season, with programs and media guides from all those years scattered in there.
I learned the old-fashioned goal song, which I think should still be the goal song, but times change I guess. My whole life, I was known as "The Islanders Fan." For a young kid, I'm guessing I had a very good understanding of what was happening on the ice compared to many other people.
Early in my life, being an Islanders fan was pretty cool. We had Shawn Bates' penalty shot in 2002, which I remember watching in my bedroom with my father. The Islanders made the playoffs three years in a row when I began following the team. Two of these years, my father had purchased tickets to game six of the first round of the playoffs. Both years, the Islanders were eliminated in five games, so my dreams of going to a playoff game needed to wait.
But for me and most Islanders fans, going to the game meant going to watch a game. Nassau Coliseum has a far too small concourse, not so good food, a scoreboard that isn't big, and not too much fanfare. But what it lacks in amenities it makes up for in views of the game. In every seat in Nassau Coliseum, you can see the full ice surface, and you are usually able to hear hear the game pretty well. Here's a good example of that. One photo below was taken sometime between 2002 and 2004, sometime before the full season NHL lockout in 2004-05. One photo was taken in January 2015. Both are from the upper 300 level of the Coliseum. What changed? Pretty much nothing except the camera that took the photo of the spectacular view.
2015
2004
Now, I'm not saying that Nassau Coliseum isn't an outdated facility. It is. Compared to newer arenas, it could be considered a minor league facility. When you walk up the stairs at the 300 level at the Coliseum, your feet stick to the floor and unstick with each step, something you would more likely see at a bar than an NHL arena . That's probably the result of 43 years of beer and soda spilling all over them, but it's one of the small things that make the Coliseum great.
The roof at Nassau Coliseum isn't that high. The arena is built specifically for hockey, so the noise goes straight down on the ice, it doesn't leave. When you look up at the ceiling, you see dozens of banners commemorating the Islanders glory years of the 1980s. Four Stanley Cup Championship banners await company while others in blue and orange symbolize the Islanders 19 consecutive playoff series wins, a record that I doubt will ever be broken.
But for now, back to my journey. The NHL lockout of 2004-05 hurt. I was only 11 years old at the time, and all that free time let me start watching football. With the exception of Wade Dubielewicz poke check in 2007 that sent the Isles to the playoffs, the Islanders were just terrible from the moment I entered middle school. However, I was Al Arbour's 1500th game coached in 2007, and that moment was the first time I've ever seen a banner get raised to the rafters. It was a brief moment of glory in an otherwise forgettable time to be an Islanders fan.
2005-06
Eventually, I started going to games by myself and with friends, not necessarily with my parents like I used to. In 2009, the wheels fell off the train. The Islanders finished with 61 points, by far worst in the NHL. I learned how to deal with losing, there is always tomorrow. Tickets for games were cheap and I went often with a friend who had season tickets. I had fun at those games, getting a bunch of cool autographs and other pieces of memorabilia. I remember seeing Sean Bergenheim score a hat trick with 0.7 seconds left in the game, which was probably the best moment I'd seen in person to that point.
But then, things stared to change. John Tavares was drafted. I was at his NHL debut. I remember screaming 'John Ta-va-res' after his first NHL goal. For seemingly every season, I was at opening night. The one night of the season when everyone starts the same. In my head, the Islanders just weren't was good of a team, but they were MY team. They weren't New York's team, they weren't Long Island's team, they were MY team. Yet, all through my high school years, they continually let me down, time after time after time.
Opening Night 2010
Opening Night 2011
One night in 2011, right after the Islanders made Jack Capuano head coach, my frustration with losing reached a high point. I wore a bag on my head to one of the games that season. It said "Last 11 games: Wins: 0 Coaches: 2." The team lost consistently, and I learned how to deal with it. During the 2010-11 season, I went to 14 games, the most I've ever been to in an Islanders season. That day, Sparky jokingly ate my head. People asked to take photos with me and of me, and I figured out that being last place can be fun. However, being the lovable loser gets quite old after a while.
Enter the lockout of 2012-13. I spent countless hours watching TV and looking at Twitter to see how the negotiations were going. It wasn't fun. That was my first semester in college, and the Islanders weren't there. But, I think they were just waiting for me to come home.
I'd been to pretty much every home opener since 2005, and I couldn't make the original 2012 one due to school. During the lockout, it was announced the Islanders were moving to Brooklyn, but that seemed like an afterthought at at the time.
Opening Night January 2013
However, the lockout finally ended in January 2013 and I was home to go to game one of the shortened 48 game season. Heck, I even went to the Coliseum at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday to watch training camp. The Islanders lost that home opener to the Devils, but there was no better feeling than watching the Islanders back where they belonged. That season was magical, as the Islanders made the playoffs for the first time since I was in middle school.
That series against Pittsburgh in 2013 was an amazing one although I couldn't get to one of the games. Just the thought that the Islanders were once again a legitimate NHL team competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was a new one in my head.
In 2013-14, I got to go to a few games over Thanksgiving and other school breaks. I also got lucky and videotaped some memorable Islanders moments such as Ryan Strome's First NHL Goal and John Tavares' Hat Trick Goal, both on the same night. Although the season wasn't good, it was something to build on for this season and I got some cool memorabilia out of it, my favorite of which you can see on the right.
But finally came this current season, the final on at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It started off with theDraft Party and Rookie Scrimmage, and at those events I could tell this was going to be a fun season.
I got to go to the Islanders preseason game in Brooklyn in September. Don't get me wrong, Barclays Center is a state of the art facility and the Islanders will be happy to call it home. It has great food, huge concourses, a giant video board, and is the type of 21st Century Arena the Islanders haven't had. But the arena isn't quite a hockey arena yet. The sight lines are off, and it just didn't feel like home to me. But ready or not, Brooklyn we come.
Once the regular season started, the Islanders were spectacular. Winning was followed by more winning at a pace I haven't seen in my lifetime. At my first game of the year, I heard the Coliseum louder than I've ever heard it before. That's what winning does. Take a look for yourself:
This season has been amazing. I have made more of an effort to go to games, knowing that I probably won't be able to go as much once the team is in Brooklyn for good. The barn has rocked, and it is a big difference from the 8,889 that attended the Islanders game on Halloween night in 2009. I was one of those few who saw Jeff Tambellini score a hat trick. That game has always stuck with me because of the attendance, but 16,000+ make a heck of a lot more noise than that. Example number two of the noise, see below:
I've seen other greatmoments at the Coliseum this season, but it's not over yet. Like many other Long Islanders, I have grown up going to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. At my first game at Nassau Coliseum, I was a seven years old and in second grade. At what may be my last, I am 20 years old and a junior in college.
But for my whole life, I've waited to say this sentence. Now that it's past midnight on Long Island, I can say this proudly for the first time:
Today, I'm going to a Stanley Cup Playoffs game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
We have nearly reached the end of our time at Nassau Coliseum. As the end gets closer, I will be posting my photos of some of my favorite times at the Coliseum and relating to my life as an Islanders fan. This team has been a big part of me growing up, and now I feel like it is going to be taken away from me.
Part 1
When I was younger, I was a member of the New York Islanders Booster Club. They had meetings with players a few times over the course of the season. This is the first player I've ever met and the first autograph I've ever gotten, former Islanders captain Mike Peca.
Both the hat and jersey I am wearing in that photo are now adorned with signatures from Islanders legends and hang in my bedroom. This was just the beginning of my lifelong love for the Islanders.
I went to a couple games over the past week, and I've never heard the old barn rock like it has so far. The Isles are 17-7-0 and show no signs of slowing down. If these videos don't show you, then I don't know what will.
I went to Isles cleanup day today to try and get a few autographs and talk to the guys. I did that, as you can see on my other blog.
When Lubomir Visnovsky walked out, I asked if he would be ready for next year. "I hope so," he said. Johan Sundstrom is all healed from his concussion. Brian Strait (right) will be getting his cast off tomorrow. Everything is looking up for the 2014-15 Islanders, who will be playing for the last time at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Try not to cry when watching below.
Happy Holidays! The Islanders currently sit in 14th out of 15 in the Eastern Conference with 29 points. That is an all to familiar spot in the standings for the Isles. While this year was supposed to be a year that the Islanders would prove that they are a playoff team and potential Stanley Cup contender, this year has gone down the drain early. Here is some of what's up with this team.
Credit: Getty Images
The Good: Since returning from a groin injury, veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been great. In the five games since returning, Nabby is 2-1-2. First, he shutout the Montreal Canadiens for a full three periods. But since the Isles didn't score either, the game went to OT where Nabby couldn't make a save on a Max Pacioretty stop. In his last game in Detroit, Nabby was barely tested by a beat-up Red Wings team and got his 56th career shutout, first of the season. In five games since returning, Nabokov has a 1.96 Goals Against Average and a .928 Save Percentage, both great numbers that should help his team win if he keeps them up.
The Bad: These photos from the end of the third period of the game against Tampa Bay don't need much explaining.
Credit: Getty Images
The Terrible: Third Period Leads. What is it with the New York Islanders and third period leads? In 38 games this season, the Islanders have blown a third period TEN times. If the Islanders had won all 10 of those games, they would be right in the middle of the playoff teams. In five of those 10 games, the Isles have blown a two goal lead. In those five games, the Isles are 0-2-3 after taking a two goal lead into the third period. Simply, the Islanders will need to be mentally tough and physically tougher in the third period if they want to have any chance at making the playoffs.
When I was just seven years old, I attended my first Islanders game. That day was one to remember. I remember an usher gave me a souvenir puck as we were leaving the game. I remember thinking that the team in the green jerseys, the Dallas Stars, were the good team. I don't remember the video below too well, but I remember the Islanders winning. Take a look.
After that, I was hooked. Later that winter, I wrote a letter to the Islanders with a bunch of questions. Surprisingly, I got a response a few weeks later, as you can see below.
The signature on the bottom of the letter belongs to Mike Milbury, who was the Islanders general manager at the time of the letter, which was late in 2001. Getting a letter on official Islanders stationary from their GM was something I always treasured. I've kept that letter for almost 12 years, and although the stuff Milbury writes about might be random answers to questions I have, the letter has a much greater meaning to me.
I am a New York Islanders fan. From all the bad to all the good that hopefully will come soon, I'll be rooting for the blue and orange. This letter helped start it all.
The Islanders are starting to run out of time to make a move in the playoff hunt, but if there was a time to make a move, it would be now. The Islanders can thank these three stars, that are not named John Tavares, for the late season push.
Third Star: Timly Scoring from Defensemen
Islanders defensemen have scored a total of 13 goals this season. That is not a good mark by any means, but when the Isles have to have a goal, don't be suprised if it is a d-man putting the puck in the twine. In the past few weeks, the Isles won two games in overtime thanks to the defensemen. The first OT winner was scored by the least likely culprit on the Islanders, Mark Eaton. But why would he not score? It was only his 600th NHL game and he was heading down the ice with Milan Jurcina, another unlikely culprit.
The second OT winner was scored by none other than the captain, Mark Streit, and his goal was a beauty. He went right through the entire Los Angeles Kings team and buried a backhander past Matt Moulson's brother in law, Jonathan Quick. He also did it on a day the Islanders were honoring a defenseman, Kenny Jonsson.
Second Star: PA Pareteau's Emergence
Over the past couple weeks, PA Parenteau has showed everybody that he deserves a raise from the 1.25 million bucks he is making this season. He has scored goals attimelymoments. He has also been the guy tomake theperfect passto set up a goal. He is currently 6th in the entire NHL with 42 assists, and even when he was moved off of the John Tavares line, he continued to produce. When Parenteau heads into free agency this summer, the Isles need to make it their number one priority to resign him for next season.
First Star: Nabby Saying No Let's face it, Evgeni Nabokov has been the Islanders best player over the past month or so. He single-handedly won a game that the Islanders had no business winning, making 45 savesin Philadelphia through overtime, then making two more in the shootout to somehow give the Islanders a 1-0 win. When games have gone past regulation this year, Nabokov hasn't lost. He has provided something the Islanders have lacked over the past few seasons, stability in net. There are talks that the Islanders might trade him, but then they would be giving up on this season. Garth Snow needs to make a significant effort to re-sign Nabokov for next season because Al Montoya has been shakey and Rick DiPietro is well....Rick DiPietro. Nabokov's 15-14-0 record so far this season is solid, especially since he missed a few weeks earlier in the season with an injury. If Nabokov leaves, then the Islanders will have no goalies that have any experience in big games.
Now, I know what you are thinking, Where is John Tavares? He is not on this list because everyone in the NHL knows that he is just the best player on the team. Also, over the past few weeks, it has been these three things leading the team. The time to win is now or never for the Islanders. Will it happen? Let's watch and see.
On December 26, for the first time in my life, I attended an NHL game that was NOT played at Nassau Coliseum. I went to Madison Square Garden to see the Rangers host the Islanders.
At every game I go to, I wear my blue Isles home jersey. But this time, for fear of it getting ruined, I chose to wear my "Haley 59" shirt that I bought at the end of last season. I figured that MSG would be a cruel environment for an Islander fan. I was waiting to be booed, yelled at, and I was half-expecting to get a beer dumped on me.
Walking into the Garden gave me a whole new perspective on hockey arenas. I had seats in the lower level, which was renovated over this past summer. The concourse was huge, there was a nice, clean, and shiny floor, as well as large well cushioned seats. The ushers were wearing suits and ties, unlike at the Coliseum where they wear sweater vests with Isles logos on them.
When I got to my seat, I could hear the guy sitting next to me mumble under his breath. "Great, we're sitting next to Islander fans." As the warmups began, the seats began to fill up. On Long Island, the seats are usually full at the bottom, but nobody is at the top during warm-ups. After warm-ups, I had a waitress bring me food directly to my seat. Too bad they don't have that on Long Island.
If your are wondering, everyone in the picture on the left is looking at PA Parenteau (off-camera), who has the puck. I guess the Isles are thinking if the goalie can stop 9 Islanders, he can stop 5 Rangers. Only problem, there is only 1 puck each time, and the Rangers are deadly accurate.
Suprisingly, the insults stopped there. After the first period, I was throughly satisfied witht the Isles effort. It was scoreless and Evgeni Nabokov was great. Unfortunately for the Isles, Henrik Lundqvist was also great. Less than 5 minutes in the game, Micheal Haley got into a fight, and had to leave due to an injury sustained in the fight. He had to take the "skate of shame" to the locker room after he had already sat in the penalty box.
As we all know, the Rangers went on to win the game 3-0. Rookie Carl Hagelin had a pair of goals and Marian Gaborik added a late empty net goal. This scene to the left shows the general hoopla after the puck crossed the goal line.
You can't blame the loss on Nabokov, he played great. You can blame the loss on a lack of execution by the Islanders. They tried to make the fancy play instead of just shooting the puck. Henrik Lundqvist stood on his head for the Rangers, making 28 saves for the shutout.
The facts are the Rangers are a very good hockey team. This could be their year. The Islanders are still searching for an identity. The fans at the Garden realized that any insult they yell at me can't do enough justice. Simply looking at the scoreboard will do enough justice and makes more of an insult. Take a look at the scoreboard for yourself, and tell me that isn't an insult for Islanders fans.
Like I said, the Isles need to find an identity. If nothing shows up, we will be in for another long season. Thanks for reading. That's all I have from MSG.
Well, a month into the season and here we are again. That feeling of, "What do they have to do to win a game?" is back. This is NOT the time to hit the big red panic button.
The facts are the Isles started 3-1-0, but went 0-3-2 since then.
In their last game, the Isles were on the wrong end of atough call in OT, which might have cost them the game. Everyone seemed to know what happened, except for the guys in stripes.
Photo Credit: sports.yahoo.com
On a positive note from this game, oft injured goalie Rick DiPietro started, and played very well, allwoing 2 goals throughout regulation. The Isles powerplay got 2 goals in the second period, and they peppered Thomas Greiss with 37 shots. Overall a great game, but just an unfortunate outcome.
Photo Credit: Newsday
The Islanders have also yet to win a road game. Their best chance came in Pittsburgh last week when, after a rare Matt Martin goal, the Isles were up 2-0 in the third period. The Penguins came back and tied it against Evgeni Nabokov, who had been playing great. The game went to a shootout, and for some reason unknown at that point, Evgeni Nabokov simply left the game and Rick DiPietro came in for his first game action of the season. Even Isles announcer Howie Rose was baffled. He said, in complete shock, "What in the wide world of sports is going on here?!?!?" DiPietro played fine in the shootout, allowing a goal to Evgeni Malkin on a move that had DiPietro sliding before the puck left Malkin's stick. Unfortunately for him, the Isles couldn't match it.
The bottom line is, the Isles are not playing badly, they are just not winning. Their penalty kill ins #8 in the league. The power play is #10 in the league, both solid numbers. If these numbers continue to stay the way they are, the Isles will be fine. There is no reason to panic.
For the first time in 15 years, the Islanders host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, and that should make for a great game as last year the Islanders and the Atlanta Thrashers always played close, competative games. It's early, and eventually this will all work itself out.
