Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The Islanders had a full day off on Monday, hitting the ice for practice Tuesday to prepare for the New Jerseys Devils on Veterans Day. Despite the long road trip to open the season, the Islanders continue to deal with long breaks between games. Though difficult to deal with at times, it allowed Semyon Varlamov a chance to recover from injury and the Islanders have now gained a game in hand (or two) along the way.
While we wait for games, we won’t have to wait too much longer for the opening of UBS Arena - it’s next week! We have food and beverage options, tailgating policy, and photos of the Grand Hall for you. Plus, the 50th anniversary of when Long Island was awarded a hockey franchise.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: Despite some continued iffy play by Zdeno Chara, his game appears to be trending in the right direction. It helps when he picks up two assists in three games, but his overall game has also improved along with the Islanders’ ability to play a more complete game. If you don’t believe us, maybe you’ll believe these charts.
🔥 GOALY-SHEV: The Bridgeport Islanders are off to an ok start this season, led by KHL veteran, Anatolii Golyshev, who now has five goals in six games. The Islanders don’t necessarily have room up front, especially with the entire lineup finding ways to produce or play well defensively. It doesn’t seem all that possible head coach, Barry Trotz, will mess with his newfound chemistry until (or if) something goes awry.
🚨THRILLER AT WEBSTER (Arena): The Bridgeport Islanders faced the Hartford Wolfpack and Long Island’s own, Keith Kinkaid, on Sunday in Connecticut. With just 25 seconds left in the third period, Kyle MacLean found the back of the net for the Islanders’ fourth win of the season. Listen to the call.
🕰 ALMOST TIME: The countdown is on for the opening of UBS Arena at Belmont Park and we continue to get a daily drip of what to expect on November 20th.
😲 HALL YEAH: UBS Arena’s design was inspired by a number of New York landmark attractions. When fans step inside the arena’s Great Hall Lobby and you’ll feel as though you’re walking under the grand arches of Grand Central Terminal.
🚙 HONK-HONK: An e-mail made the rounds on social media stating that two of Islanders fans’ favorite pastimes - tailgating and honking would not be permitted at UBS Arena. In all likelihood, this won’t be enforced in practice, but it was enough to put a momentary scare into those that plan to be at the arena very early next Saturday.
🍔 FOOD OPTIONS, YUMMY, YUMMY: UBS Arena listed some of the food options that will be available this season, including our friends at Blue Line Deli & Bagels.
👩🏫 SOUND SMART: UBS Arena is building towards becoming the first venue of its kind in New York to be eligible to achieve certification under the LEED V4 Building Design + Construction rating system while featuring state-of-the-art sustainable technology. Industry experts will be driving UBS Arena’s green initiatives, setting the bar within the market for sustainably built and operated, world-class venues. Learn more about sustainability here.
⏭ NEXT UP: While the Isles rest up, the Devils welcome the league-best Florida Panthers to town tonight, before the Isles & Devils meet up on Thursday.
📊 STANDINGS:
🗓 ISLE REMEMBER: On this date, 50 years ago, the New York Islanders were born, or at least conceived. Here’s the background on how Long Island gained a professional hockey team on November 8, 1971.
From the New York Times archives, “The Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead, L. I., a $22‐million arena expected to be ready in three months, will be the site of the New York entrant. But Roy Boe, who applied for the franchise, hasn't been granted it yet. While the league has awarded franchises to two areas, it hasn't granted them to specific owners. Boe and several business associates are negotiating with the New York Rangers, who play out of Madison Square Garden and own the territorial rights for 50 miles. Boe and the Rangers haven't agreed on how a $5‐million indemnification fee the Rangers are demanding will be paid.”
In his new book, “100 Things Islanders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” Arthur Staple captures the Birth of the Islanders.
“Boe was the man who brought the idea of NHL hockey to Lonig Island. In 1971 he already had owned the Nets for two years, with lavish plans for the local team that played in the American Basketball Association. The Nassau Coliseum, a new sports arena, was opening in Uniondale the next year, and he wanted his basketball team there. The idea of a hockey team joining them there intrigued Boe and his dozens of partners in the Nets.”
The league’s motivation for awarding Long Island and Boe a franchise was to block the growth of their competition, the World Hockey Association (WHA), and limit their opportunity in the New York metro area. The New York Raiders were intended to be the flag-ship WHL franchise and had hopes of playing at the Coliseum. Once Long Island was awarded an NHL franchise, the Raiders were left being tenants of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. After its inaugural season, the team became known as the New York Golden Blades and eventually relocated to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, becoming the New Jersey Knights.
Ultimately, Boe and his partners paid $6 million to the league in entrance fees and another $4 million in territory fees to the Rangers for the right to exist - it was the birth of the Islanders and the birth of a rivalry. Boe’s tenure as owner lasted until 1978 when he sold his shares of the team to John Pickett, but his impact was long-lasting. Boe’s first hire was Bill Torrey as the team’s general manager, setting in motion the makings of the Islanders dynasty.
🎧 Nassuamen Hockey Podcast: Tune into the Nassaumen Hockey Podcast on Wednesday morning for Episode 85, featuring Isles Fix contributors James Nichols and Jon Zella.
🔗 Islanders Zdeno Chara trending in the right direction by Michel Anderson “There’s still a long way to go on the season. But if Chara can be a serviceable member of the Islanders defensive core -recently he’s shown he can – he’ll be worth it. It doesn’t mean that the Isles may not look for an upgrade in the trade market, but if this continues they won’t need to rush in order to make that upgrade.”
🔗 Semyon Varlamov returns, ‘normal schedule’ begins to ‘unfold,’ by Joe Pantorno
“Yet the Islanders were one solid period away from coming out of it with a three-game sweep — blowing a 2-1 lead in the third as the Wild scored two goals in a 2:01 span to take a lead they would add onto with a pair of empty-net tallies in the final 1:47 of regulation.”
📺 Hockey Night in NY with Sean Cuthbert & Christian Arnold “Legend Bobby Nystrom on to talk about the team's resurgence under Lou Lamoriello & Barry Trotz, the opening of UBS ARENA, some memories from the dynasty years, & more.”
And we leave you with this…a letter from L.I. Sports Enterprises to prospective hockey fans to purchase seats at the brand new Nassau Coliseum starting in October 1972.
The price range was $6, $7, and $8 for seats :)
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