ROOMIES: MacDonald and Danis (2nd in a series)
Two goalies. One goal. One room.
So picture this. In your chosen profession, you and another person share the same workspace. When the real heavy lifting has to be done, your boss has to choose every day between you or the other guy. As a result, your future in the postion is very much day-to-day.
And if that wasn’t enough potential for strain, when you have to travel for conferences 41 days a year, you share a hotel room with your colleague/competitor.
This is the life of most NHL goalies. This is exactly the lives of Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis. Yet when I spoke to them yesterday after practice about this unique professional existence, it was apparent they were not just colleagues, but friends.
“Yann’s a good man. I love being around the guy,” said MacDonald, who gets the start tonight in Washington. “We’re on the same schedule, for the most part, when it comes to our game-day routine, so there are no issues. We go to dinner together the night before. We support each other.”
Seriously? No issues?
“He watches a lot more TV than I do,” said MacDonald. “But then I just fall asleep.”
Yann?
“That’s true. Sometimes I’ll be talking to Joey and I can see the eyes go. He’s completely zoned out and he’s about to crash,” said Danis, probably up next for Montreal at the Coliseum on Thursday. “He’s too nice a guy to tell me to be quiet so I just stop talking. That’s different than this one teammate I had in (Canadiens AHL affiliate) Hamilton. The guy used to fall asleep in the middle of our conversations. Joey doesn’t do that to me. He’s a good friend.”
Their locker room stalls at Islanders Iceworks are across from each other. As I spoke to one, the other easily joined in. You could see there is a genuine respect.
“We have a job to do,” said MacDonald. “Sometimes there are problems or tension between goalies, but not much in the NHL and not between Yanny and me. What’s the point? We both want to help the team win. Everything else works itself out.”
So yesterday, when the Islanders’ charter landed in Washington around 4:00 and they reached the team hotel 30 minutes later, MacDonald and Danis checked into the same double room. After calling their families - each are young dads, another thing they have in common - they headed out for dinner together.
Tonight against the Caps and tomorrow against the Habs, the competition continues. The reality that there may be an opening on the Islanders’ roster next season for only Danis or MacDonald next season doesn’t appear to cause any conflict. Through mutual respect, a friendship endures.
ETC: Defenseman Joe Callahan and forward Joel Rechlicz have been recalled on an emergency basis for tonight’s game in Washington. Mark Streit is out with a groin injury. The all-star dman should really take his time getting back, don’t you think?
After about 60 consecutive days, I have to step away from the laptop for a bit. Kevin from Barry Melrose Rocks will be your cruise director tonight. Kevin’s got some real good numbers reflecting the development of some of the Islanders’ kids in the second half. You’ll want to check it out.
Comments. Arena development (or lack thereof) continues in next thread.
27 Responses to “ROOMIES: MacDonald and Danis (2nd in a series)
Two goalies. One goal. One room.”
Please Wait
Priceless. I wonder if Yann “saves” his leftovers for Joey Mac. Zing!
Pictou County Nova Scotia is very proud of the way Joey has handled himself this year. We were very glad that Joey was given the chance to show that he belongs in the NHL and we look forward to supporting whatever team he is playing for next year. He is a great young man and great with the kids in our area.
I can’t remember the last time I read something about the Islanders goaltending tandom and saw comments like “no issues”,”he’s a good friend” and “he’s too nice a guy…”Good job.They seem like two likeable people.
no Divas here…DP is our A-Rod
Awesome stuff again CB thanks for this and pleaseee get cracking on the home roomies special to follow up this away roomies series.
Nice piece. I would hope that both guys can find one way NHL jobs next year. Either would give us a quality combo once the “invisble man” gets healthy.
CB, who does ricky room with on the road? if i had to guess, radek martinek since he doesn’t talk. ricky probably goes on and on and radek probably just sits there with a blank stare on his face.
CB,
great article, I love this type of stuff! I look forward to the next one.
Great Story! Who plays the points on the PP tonight?
Great article CB!!!!
Yeah CB, Let Marky Mark sit the rest of the season..no need to have em out there.
We’re goin for the #1 pick aren’t we?!
3 jonw (3): Garth and Rick were roomatss and by all accounts got along quite well. Joey and Yann are the same age so that might help them, as well. Either way, nice story- I agree that they seem like two likeable people.
I thought DP got his own penthouse on the road?? although he could use the doghouse in the lockeroom…
Actually i think # 7 nailed it, why do you think marty seems so much happier this year, he was interviewed between period the other night, he was a funny interview, now that he gets some sleep…
We can only hope that RDP turns out to be as good a goalie as A-Rod is a hitter. Not that A-Rod isn’t a first-class noodge, but he is also one of Earth’s premier crushers of pitched baseballs.
Chris TMC#12, after a nice story I did not want to overload the sarcasm, but yes I do remember when Ricky and Garth were roomies.They did get along well when they were teamates,and seem to get along better now that they are both management.
Pointmen would be Okposo and Weight?
15- hahahaha
All eyes on the Avs game tonight.
They should keep Streit out for the rest of the season. There is no reason to take a chance.
The way the Avalanche are going let’s hope they can a least get one point.
Hey Islander fans we have a problem whom do we keep for backup. Or do we sign both and maybe force a trade and get something other than a pick. Such a problem. Some teams can’t figure that one.
I wanna see a roomie article about Mike Peca and Alexi Yashin….lol did Peca really punch him in the mouth a few years back for lack of effort. Peca was my favorite player for years and then he became an Islander and Tucker did him in. Shame, but he’s having some success with the Jackets this year. Here’s to a 2 and 5 record down the stretch, to make sure we scoop the top seed in the lottery.
Anddddd… On the lighter side … a nice feel good post by CB …. Thanks CB … these inside stories on the players’ road arrangements are kinda funny … we can all relate to them in one way or another.
Today in Islander history-Mike Bossy becomes the first rookie to get 50 goals in a season. Yours truely was at the Coliseum that night.
ROFL, “Joey doesn’t fall asleep in the middle of our conversations, he’s a good friend”!!!!
THAT was funny, but seriously, good luck to both, they’ve tried their best for the team.
DP who?
jonw - hahahahaha!
I usually get along with all my fellow goalies, both teammates and otherwise. I’m glad to see this on the pro level.