Let’s Go Islanders!

 Way back in the 70’s and 80’s, everyone on Long Island was into hockey.  After all, our Islanders won four Stanley Cups …four in a row! 79-80, 80-81, 81-82 and 82-83.

Back then they played at the Nassau Coliseum, a facility owned by Nassau County. The Coliseum is located on Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, just down the road from my alma mater, Hofstra University. I never got to see a game at the Coliseum, but I did get to see the victory parade in 1982.

My interest in hockey kind of faded after that.  

Until now.

I was offered tickets to see the Islanders play the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, January 21 at their brand-new home, the UBS Arena.  And of course I accepted the tickets.

The Islanders’ new home is located across the road from the famed Belmont Racetrack, home of the third jewel in the Triple Crown.  The racetrack and arena are located in Nassau County (a huge improvement from the Isles’ temporary home in Brooklyn), just across the border from the NYC Borough of Queens.

Here’s a view of the complex.

  

The green area is the racetrack, of course.  You can see the arena just below the track. The brown road on the left side of the photo is the Cross Island Parkway.  On the other side of the highway is Queens.

Now look at the picture again and see if you can find ‘Emerald Parking”.  That’s the general parking lot for the arena.  Yeah, it’s on the other side of the racetrack…you park your car and take a shuttle bus to the arena.

You have to be vaccinated in order to enter the arena.  Masks are required, but the rule is loosely enforced.

It was military appreciation night, which meant swag — a baseball cap in camouflage, with the Islanders’ logo. And lots of cheering for the men and women who serve, or have served, our country.  

Food was expensive but better than most arenas.  We wound up with steak sandwiches — steak, mozzarella and arugula on a hero roll.

Inside the arena, you can see the Stanley Cup banners.

 

And the retired jersey … all players from the Stanley Cup years.

  

We were given placards to display during the first period.

Our seats were 11 rows back from the ice.  

  

Ready for the game.

I had forgotten how fast the game moves, how small the puck is, how exciting it can be.

 

I got a kick out of watching the Zamboni and the guys who clean the ice.

  

And let’s not forget the mascot, Sparky the Dragon.

  

Great game.  The Islanders scored twice in the first period and twice in the third, taking the game 4-0.

But then, on the way home, we heard sad news. Clark Gillies died.  Gillies was part of that amazing team that won four Stanley Cups.  His jersey hangs in the arena,  His plaque is mounted on the arena wall.  The team will wear his number on their sleeves for the rest of the season.