Good Morning, Islanders Country.
Another New York team will raise a banner tonight, but 25 years ago, the New York Islanders retired the No. 19 of one of the catalysts behind four consecutive banner raises - the best two-way center of his generation, Bryan Trottier.
Matthew Schaefer already has some things, and hopefully many more one day, in common with Trottier, but one similarity you may not know is how they were welcomed to Long Island off the ice.
Chris Botta tells the story of Trottier and his first Long Island home.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Bryan Trottier’s number retirement ceremony at the Nassau Coliseum, reminding us of what the legendary No. 19 and Matthew Schaefer have in common: both won the Calder Trophy while living in Long Island families' homes.
For Schaefer, it has been Sydney, Matt, and the Martins of Plandome. For Trottier in his rookie season of 1975-76, it was Warren, Pat, Warren Jr (Renny), Rick and Russ Amendola of Huntington.
“They are my second family,” Bryan told me for a story in the Islanders’ program distributed to fans at Trottier Day on Oct. 20, 2001. “The Amendolas are so special; my own family was never insulted when they heard me say that. When I think of the people responsible for helping my career get off to a good start on Long Island, I think of my coaches, my teammates, and the Amendolas.”
A 20-year-old rookie from Val Marie, Saskatchewan, Trottier decided he was not ready to tackle this new world on Long Island alone. After Bill Torrey and Al Arbor told him he made the NHL roster, Trottier said in the locker room he was looking for a Long Island family to host him as a billet, just like he had in juniors in the Western Hockey League.
Warren Amendola was at practice that day. He owned Koho, the hockey equipment brand. Warren and Pat had three children. “But we had the room,” Pat said in 2001, “so we figured, why not?’”
Bryan was the same person back then that he is today. He can be deeply focused – the competitive fire always burns – but he is also humble and genuine. When he’s at the top of his game, he’s one of the best storytellers in NHL history. It’s no surprise that Trottier quickly became family to the Amendolas.
There was “Open House Night” on Mondays, when Warren and Pat told Bryan he could invite any of his teammates over for dinner. Veterans Gerry Hart and J.P. Parise were regulars that season. Youngsters Denis Potvin and Clark Gillies started coming around.
“The only thing better than Monday Open House nights at the Amendolas,” said Bryan, “was Friday nights with the family at their favorite Italian restaurant.”
The night Bryan scored a hat trick in his first NHL home game, he calmed himself down after the big night by watching repeats of “The Honeymooners” on the Amendola family TV before calling his Mom and Dad back home.
There were even a few days when Trottier joined Rick Amendola, the youngest of his three new “brothers,” at Cold Spring Harbor High School. Rick’s favorite memory was Bryan going straight from Islanders practice to school to help him build the senior float. Imagine that.
Unlike Schaefer, Trottier was not a first overall pick or viewed as a potential franchise player in his draft year. He was selected 22nd overall, which was in the second round back then. The only player to go on to be both a Cup champion and bona fide star among the 21 players taken before Trottier was Clark Gillies, who was picked fourth overall by the Islanders.
The Amendolas’ generosity impacted the player and person Bryan became: a seven-time Stanley Cup champion, one of the greatest Indigenous athletes in history, and the most underrated New York superstar of a generation.
Yet he has always maintained his humility. In 2001, Bryan was asked by Islanders staff to tell us who he wanted on the Coliseum ice to cut the ribbon and raise his banner. This had become a tradition; for example, Gillies chose his great pal and teammate Billy Harris to do the honors for him. Bryan said, “It has to be Warren and Pat. I want them there for everything they did for me.”
“They were the first people to take me under their wings. But really, everyone I met on Long Island did. I tell people all the time that I was born in Saskatchewan but grew up on Long Island.”
Then Trottier went further.
“I also want the fans to know that the Amendolas will be representing all of Long Island for me,” he said. “They were the first people to take me under their wings. But really, everyone I met on Long Island did. I tell people all the time that I was born in Saskatchewan but grew up on Long Island.”
We can all envision a moment, many, many years from now, when a 40-something Matthew Schaefer stands on the ice in Elmont alongside present and future family members on his night. Raised in Ontario but growing as a player and citizen at an extraordinary rate on Long Island, it would not be a surprise to see the Martins right there with him.
Schaefer knows how Trottier felt. It is a bond that leads to Calder Trophies and hopefully championships. There are also memories that transcend the sport.
In the week leading up to Trottier Day 25 years ago, Pat Amendola tried to put into words what Bryan meant to her, Warren and their sons.
“Bryan was like a member of our family,” said Mrs. Amendola. “No wait…he will always be a member of our family.”
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Love these stories about Isles history! Thanks.