ESSAYS WELCOME: HONOR THY HOCKEY FATHER
Thread held open until Monday at 2:00 pm
On this Fathers’ Day weekend, we take a brief break from Draft Madness to salute our dads. If your father played a role in your love for the NHL and the New York Islanders, or your own youth hockey career, here’s your chance to honor him. Please keep entries at a max of 300 words. Place them in Comments. Thank you…CB
55 Responses to ESSAYS WELCOME: HONOR THY HOCKEY FATHER
Thread held open until Monday at 2:00 pm
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Shoogah says:
Back in the early 80′s, Dad bought me a royal blue Islanders jacket. The one with the orange stripe on the cuffs and the waistband. Best dad (and jacket) ever!
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Dave Schneider says:
When I was three years old my dad came home one night with two yellow, plastic hockey sticks and a big purple ball and played keep-away with me. From that time on I’ve been in love with the game.
My dad also instilled his love for the Islanders in me from a young age. After I was born and my parents took me back from the hospital my dad sat me down on his leg and we watched an Islander game.
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Hud says:
My dad came home from work in 1979, we were living in Rockville Centre. He said, I have Islander tickets, lets go! We head to the game, they were playing the Kings. While trying to find parking the Isles score 3 times, when we got to our seats it was 3-0 Isles and they went on to win 4-1. I don’t remember much about the game since I was 11 years old, but, I remember the parking lot, dad and I happy for every goal but bummed we were not inside to see them. Today I am in San Diego and he is in Los Angeles, it was a yearly ritual for he and I to go the Islander-King game every year. Unfortunately the new schedule keeps that from happening each year now, but, we did catch both the Ducks and Kings games this past year. Having grown up with the Rangers, I still make fun of him, saying deep in his heart I know he roots for the Rangers too, but, for all the games he drove me to watch or play, be it hockey, baseball or basketball, I can give him that little spot for the Rangers. Today he is in Ireland with mom, have fun dad!
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Lawrence Teller says:
My Dad has season tix thru the “Glory Years” – during one of the games in the 1980-81 Finals against the North Stars, we scored ang I fist pumped like a champ, except it caught him across the eye as he went to hug me and knocked his glasses clear across Section 324′s Row L from his seat #7 to like seat 2 of Row J. Luckily we got them back – but he was pissed and I could tell be wanted to knock me out. But, cause he is my Dad and he loves me – he didnt. Ooooopsie!!! Sorry Dad!!!
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gary says:
I dont remember who started following the Islanders during the pre-cup years but it probably was my Dad who got me into it as i was a young son who wanted to share in his excitement together–About a year before he passed on Memorial Day(4 years ago) we attended a season tix holder meet and greet which he got autographs/pics taken with several players–I had them blown up and framed. I gave to him for our last Christmas together–One of the best gifts i ever gave him judging by his reaction and that large 3 pic frame hangs in my bedroom now with my Dad in his glory with him beaming with the players..Lifes way too short…
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Joe in Massapequa says:
Although my father is a Rangers fan he got me hooked on the Isles. I was a 5 year old kid in April of 1987 who went to bed waiting for the Easter Bunny to drop off presents. So I heard noises coming from the basement thinking it was him but instead it was my father watching the Easter Epic till the wee hours of the morning. Although I have no clue what I got for Easter that year I do know that I received a pretty sweet gift in becoming an Islanders fan for life. Dad, although the Rangers still suck and always will thanks for watching the game that night. Happy Father’s Day.
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We lived in Queens amid Ranger fans. It was 1970, and the rags were the only hockey team around, so all of our family rooted for them. When the N.Y Islanders came into the picture, my dad started rooting for them and making side bets that they will beat the rangers real soon. Our family pretty much laughed at us. My dad used to say the Isles had a lot more heart than the rangers, and soon after they were regularly beating them on the ice! I was a pretty petite little girl but that did not stop my father from taking my frilly dress off and donning me in full Islander gear while strolling down Steinway st after an Islander win. My dad passed away a few years ago, but even in his last few days of life when he could barely remember anything, He would pull me closer to him and whisper, did they win, tonight?
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JD says:
While most Baseball fans were raised on stories of Mantle, Joe D, and Jackie, my Dad would teach me all about our Islander greats. I wasn’t born until after our glory years so I grew up learning all about Nystrom, Bossy, Trottier, Billy Smith, and my all time favorite Clark Gillies. Even though he was in failing health, my old man taught me how to skate and played goalie for me in the driveway while I would fire shot after shot at him as i practiced my slapshots. My Dad passed away a few years back but one of the last memories I have of him was talking Islander hockey while he was in the hospital and it made him smile one last time. Happy Fathers Day Dad and to all others on PointBlank.
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isles72 says:
my old man immigrated to canada from italy in the 1950′s so it took him awhile to appreicate hockey .he would bring to my games , help me suit up the goalie gear and sit quietly in the stands with a few of the other italian men/women that had kids on the team
my fondest memories were of my dad imitating the french canadian hockey moms while we sat down at the dinner table
”Patin Luke , Patin”
patin means skate , so the french hockey moms we’re yelling this at the top of their lungs hoping their son would skate faster at various points during the game .Once I knew that my dad thought this was funny we’d always have a moment where our eyes would lock during the game and chuckle .I remember having to wear 3 pairs of socks because my dad would buy my goalie skates 2 sizes bigger so they’d last longer.
the poor fella became a leaf fan before I was born .to this day , he writes the score of a leaf win verses the islanders with the handle of his snow shovel wherever he can find a fresh undisturbed patch of snow in my front yard .When time permits , I return the favor when the isles beat the leafs
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isle5 says:
Oh the HELL my 2 brothers an I put Dad through. We were born in 1963,64 & I came along in 1969. My poor dad, a Bronx kid & 3 years old in 1940, is a lifelong Rangers fan. He had us all on skates at 2 & thought his boys would follow him to MSG. But in 1972 for my older brothers along came a team from Long Island they could their own. My father laughed at them. In the spring of 1975 I was 6 & my 1st Islander memory was J.P. Parise’s goal at 11 seconds in OT against Dad’s Rangers. I was hooked on the Islanders & the Rivalry was on. We have had many great battles over our teams we’ve made sure he knows that the Rangers Suck. But Dad has always been their for our family & we love him. We thank him for bearing with us & even taking us to Islander games at Fort Neverlose. Heres to the good old days coming back to Long Island! Thanks Dad!
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Thomas says:
My father and I have been season ticket holders for most of the last 20 years. I have vivid memories of my dad
taking me to wait on line outside the colliseum in the snow just so we could sit in the last row to see them in the early 80′s when I was 10 years old and running into Bobby Nystrom who was nice enough to give me an autograph.During the run to the conference finals while at Penn State my father allowed me on several occasions to rent a car just so I could come home and see the playoff games including the now infamous Dale Hunter-Pierre Turgeon game.
I returned the favor in 2001-02 and got season tickets for my dad and I and we were able to see all 3 of those amazing playoff games that year including
of course the Shawn Bates goal. We have spent a lot of time (and money!) watching the Islanders and I treasure every moment of it. If there is one thing I hope for my dad is that we can see an Islander Stanley Cup game togther. Happy Father’s Day Dad! -
Brian from Massapequa says:
My Dad was the first person who influenced when it comes to hockey. He is a big Rangers fan! My Mom was the other influence as she was a Canadian with a great passion for the Montreal Canadiens. Dad used to get up at 4:00 in the morning to take me to play hockey at Christopher Morley Park and Cantiague Park (for the locals). He would get me all geared up and then when we got there he tape up my weak ankles so they would not bend. He always encouraged me even though I was really small (today I’m a touch under 5′ 7″) with positive reinforcement and necessary negative feedback. He was also the man that helped me get my old 1978-79 Burger King Islanders poster autographed by the entire 1980 Cup winning team and took pictures of me some of the players (can’t find those pictures!) that day. Today we still go at least a game a year together (he’s 77 years old and in good shape). I love you Dad. Thanks for being you.
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Warren says:
Dad wasn’t a influence he always asked me what is that black disk called and why must they fight. I basically explained the ABC’s of the NHL to him . Well he knew that my favorite team is the Islanders and bought me tickets, any way to my fellow hockey fans who follow that black disk or puck have a great “Fathers Day” and of course you to CB.
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Chris Mc says:
My dad moved to Florida 6 years ago and obviously I don’t get to see him or talk to him as much as I did when he lived in NY. But every time we talk on the phone, 75% of our conversation is about the Islanders, whether its the middle of the season or the offseason like now. The Islanders have kept us as close as the 1000 miles between us keep us apart and for that I will always cherish the orange and blue. Happy Fathers Day Pops.
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pete debenedetto says:
Dad didn’t influence me at all with hockey…but Happy Father’s Day to him anyway. I hope I influence my boy in some way….at 4 1/2 years old….he tries to say he likes the Rangers just because I love the Islanders. I know deep down there’s an Islander somewhere!!!!
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
My Dad was never into hockey. He bought me a knock-hockey set when I was a kid … That was about it. In the late 70s one of his best friends would take me to Ranger games, but my Dad never wanted to go (who could blame him. LOL!) … My Dad was a Dodger-Met / Jet fan who grew up in Brooklyn.
He wasn’t and still isn’t very athletic … His skill is business, and can calculate the ammortization of a mortgage if you give him the rate and length of a mortgage in about 10 seconds … he’ll let ya know the monthly payments, and even add the taxes if you give him the tax rate. Seriously. He came within 5 dollars a month for mine when I was wondering outloud once.
My Dad wasn’t really supportive of mine and my brother’s hockey activities … he felt we spent way to much on a sport that we’ll never make a living out of. However, that said … when I worked for him he used to cover my shift so I could go to practice and play in a high octane hockey league with former college and junior players with no pro aspirations, but wanted to keep the doors open by staying in game shape.
That’s about it. I gotta give it to him … He never got our love for the game … but he loves us enough to let us have our fun with it. Not that there weren’t moments he felt we were unreasonable. Like the time I was in a Can/Am tournament for 5 days and he was mad he had to give me a vacation. That’s the work a holic in him.
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On Edge says:
My dad turned me on to hockey and I loved it first time I ever saw a game – Rangers vs Bruins at the Garden in late 1960′s. I rooted for the Bruins. Never liked the Rangers and my father thought it was a riot that he had this kid who was nuts for the Bruins – until 1972!
When the Islanders came around my dad had 6 season tickets center ice first rown down from the street. I still have that first program in mint condition!
I turned into huge Islander fan right away and lived and died with every loss or win. In 1980 I joined the USAF and was over seas til 1985 and only saw that first cup win with my dad. But for every other cup win my dad cut out LI Press, Newsday, NY Post and Dailey News clippings and sent to me where I was stationed. It meant the world to me and only a dad would do that for his kid. I still have those clippings and as much as those mean to me, it meant more to me that he sent them to me. He’s gone now for 16 years I still think about him every day and miss him dearly. Happy father’s day Dad.
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The New Isles GM says:
I’ll never forget the day my dad told me having a pass in the driveway,….”anytime, you don’t have the puck, your on Defense.” That changed the whole way I think in every zone when I don’t have puck. And he never got involved in the politics end of the sport, especially on Long Island. That really made me feel like I had to go out there and prove myself every summer during tryouts because the last name on my jersey didn’t mean sh*t.
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Stumpy32 says:
I can pinpoint the exact moment my Isles obsession started…Game 3, Isles-Caps, first round of the 1993 playoffs. I loved the Isles before, but one night, I think it was a Thursday, I came home from school, and started doing my homework. My dad comes home earlier than usual, walks into my room, and drops two tickets to the game that night. We go, get there a little late, but in plenty of time to see the Isles comeback from 3-1 down to tie it with 40 seconds left, and then win in OT. It was incredible. We then got tickets to every home playoff game that spring, and later on, had season tickets. My dad always says that he wishes he had me 5-7 years earlier (I was born in 1980) so I could have enjoyed the Cup years like he did.
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Tim says:
When i was 7-8 my dad built me a hockey net out of some netting and PVC pipes. The net lasted years and had plenty of holes and many pipes replaced. Being born at the beginning of the dynasty my family was crazy about the islanders and instilled that love in me.
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Tom says:
My Dad grew up rooting for the Long Island Ducks/Long Island Cougars when they were still around. Of course when the Islanders came around he split his time between the Ducks and the Islanders. He brought my brother and I to games when we were kids (during the dismal years of the 90′s). Now that my brother and I are older, we’ve begun to restore my Dad’s love for the Islanders. He always says, “I’m a Yankees fan through and through, but I live and die with the Islanders.” Thanks Dad, for instilling that love in us!
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Michael Pastore says:
My father worked crazy amount of hours for his work during the week,but the weekends he always made time for me and my sister. He would take us ice skating every week, he took my sister to figure skating lessons, and even coached my ice hockey team for 3 years.
Some of my fondest memories with him are going to sporting and watching them on TV with my dad. We spent many of days and nights at Shea Stadium and Giants Stadium for the Jets, Yankee Stadium and the NVMC. But the whole family even my mother who hates sports watched the Islanders. We even went to the practices at Cantiaque Park. I remember seeing the Islanders playing a softball match against the King and his Court.
My father has always been there my whole life whenever I needed help or a kick in the can, even though I am in my 40s my father is always there. I live in Florida now but his influence on my life is just as strong. Happy Fathers Day Dad. -
CSKA says:
My dad brought me to my first hockey game – the Islanders – Caps first round playoffs in 86 ( maybe 85). I remember walking inside the arena and seeing the ice for the first time. Players were warming up and shooting the puck. I stood there speechless and numb from how beautiful that was. It was my love at first site with hockey.
A few days earlier he promised me we would go, but then he looked into the tix and it was the playoffs and he balked at the cost of tickets. He told me we couldn’t go, and I cried.
Then he bought the tix.
We had the worst, highest seats behind the goal and it was really hard to see. We lost 1:3.
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jaymz27 says:
October 21st, 1980. I was 5 years old and my father tells me him and I are going out. We make a right on Hempstead Tpke. and I have no idea where we are going. We arrive at this big white building and go inside. I saw the rink and the players skating around the ice and I have been hooked ever since. We sat in the 5th row in section 105. The Isles lost 6-3 to Vancouver that night. I left the Coliseum thinking that was the greatest thing I had ever seen and what the heck was that thing on the front of the Canuck’s jerseys.
Thanks Dad!!!! Happy Father’s Day!!!!
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my dad was a ranger fan before the islanders came around. then he switched to them. I’ve been a fan ever since ’84. He quit being any fan all together. Sometimes I have my doubts. This maybe the last year I quit being a fan too. Just can’t take the insanity anymore. It ain’t fun when your team isn’t cared for and loved like you want them to be. Whats the point of rooting for a lose situation?
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Isles6 says:
I remember early in life, my dad (was and still is a Rangers fan), taking us to Rangers’ games, and playing table top hockey with my cousins and I on many a Thanksgiving. Been an Isles’ fan since 1974, and I have no idea why, especially since my brother is also a Rangers’ fan. My dad never tried to get me to switch, but he was the one that lit the hockey flame in both my brother and I, one that still burns hot today. Love you dad, you are my hero.
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Steve Webb says:
The main reason why I love the most beautiful game on the planet.
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Jon in Chicago says:
My dad too was a Rangers fan and still is. I remember watching the Rangers on WOR-Channel 9 (I think) with him back in the late 70s and I just wanted him to toss this plastic football back to me during the game and he wouldn’t (all the time) because he was watching the game. I told him I was gonna root for the Islanders and that’s all it took for my love of this team that lasts to this day. He would never drive out to Long Island (growing up in Staten Island) so we settled for Devils-Isles games (for me) at the Meadowlands and Devils-Rangers (for him) there also. He’s one of the very few Rangers fans I love and respect to this day.
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flatpoint says:
My dad is the reason I love hockey. He is the reason for my love of the Islanders and my hockey career. My dad has brought me to many islander games and taught me everything i know about the team now. My dad has loved the islanders from the start with his favorite player being Wayne Merrick, and still loves them today with Kyle Okposo. He has always supported me in my hockey career, driving me sunday mornings and trying to attend all my games. He really has been a true hockey dad, and the best coach i ever had. I hope to win him a schshl championship before my career is over.
Thanks for being a great dad, love you. Lets Go Islanders! -
IsleFan73 says:
My late father introduced me to hockey in the early 60s. Sorry, I had no choice back then, so I grew up being a Ranger fan. I remember being so excited when my dad got me autographs of old Rangers Reggie Fleming and Wayne Hilman in the mid 1960′s. We also went to many Long Island Ducks-the hockey Ducks-at the Commack Arena. I was a big John Brophy fan, thought to be the character played by Paul Newman in slap shot. Our family became die hard Islanders fans in 1974 and the rest is history.
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Glen S says:
It wasn’t my dad that got me into playing hockey it was my oldest brother, as far as being a fan i rooted for Montreal and the Bruin’s till 72 when the NHL announced that Long Island was getting a team. I’ve been a fan since day one, I remember going to game’s with my friends and my oldest brother oh the memories. I remember in 79 I thimk I went to about 35 games without season tix as I knew guy’s that always had extra tix, what a great season that was I think they lost only a couple of time’s at home. In the early 90′s my wife got me a partial plan for my B/day and my son and I would go to a majority of the game’s and we had a blast and that was my way of giving my son the love of the game that I had and that I never had a chance to share with my dad. Not that I’m knocking my dad he just didn’t have the time or had the interest to go to the game’s, but I loved him cause he was my DAD any way Happy fathers Dad and to all the rest of us fathers on here. and one last thing LETS GO ISLANDERS…..
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Stevie10703 says:
Many of my memories of my youth revolve around my dad and hockey. When he came to this country one of his friends took him to a hockey game and he was hooked and he passed over that love of the sport to me. My first live hockey game was with my dad, I was 8 years old and he took me to the “Lanny MacDonald game” in 1978, we lived up in Westchester and I cried all the way home. When it wasn’t a live game, we watched Isles game together on Chanel 9 and since my dad never got Cable TV till the early 1990′s we missed a lot of TV games, but, were always huddled around the radio to listen to the games and today since I live nearby, he comes over to my place or I go over to his place and we watch all the games on TV together and go to 5-10 games a year. These are memories that will always be there and no one can take away even long after he’s gone.
Thanks CB, this was a great idea…
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My father and my stepfather had no idea what hockey was. Today, considerably north of 40 my Dad always asks me, “How the hell did you become so fond of hockey.” I tell him to never mind and just keep watching the Yankees. Some people will just never understand hockey. Happy father’s day to all those men who make a difference in a child’s life. That’s what being a father is all about.
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My dad work and the coliseum from 72 until 79. I was born in 79. We grew up with everything Islanders in the house, autographed pictures, sticks, gloves, everything. I played street hockey with players sticks cause there were so many around. I have a picture of my sister as a kid with Billy Harris, who she had a huge crush on and was devastated when he was traded. All throughout my childhood I remember sitting with my dad in the sunroom watching games, with him talking about the new kids coming up and who was pulling their weight and not. As I got older I didn’t get along with my dad that well, but we could always sit and watch an Islander game. I repaired the relationship just before he died almost 5 years ago now, but the love of hockey and the Islanders was always there for us. I still think of my dad when watching the new kids coming up and dream of the day when they can hoist the cup again and think of my dad screaming like a maniac out in the sunroom that we were finally back on top. I miss you, dad. Here’s to things looking up for the orange and blue. One day….
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Happy Fathers Day to ALL the DADS out there in the country.
CB … Thanks again for all your effort in putting together and maintaining this outstanding site. Happy Fathers Day to ya … Enjoy!
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GoIsles29 says:
I am on the younger side of this spectrum, but absolutely still feel the passion about the Islanders that everybody else does. Since before I was born my dad had season tickets to the Islanders, and I was too young to remember my first game, but all I remember is that my first favorite player was the former captain- Kenny Jonsson. Since before I could remember I was an Islander die-hard. Since before kindergarten, my favorite song was the Islander goal song. I would have to thank my dad for that, as he always took me to games whenever he could. My greatest game that i attended with my mom and dad was the Shawn Bates penalty shot game. As we were pulling into the parking lot for the game Yashin scored the first goal of the game. We were late because my dad was busy coaching me in t-ball. That game was one of my most memorable games ever, and I was only in Kindergarten. Even though I loved the Islanders before that, I LOVED the Islanders after that series. I fondly remember going to games throughout the next years with my dad- if I did my homework of course. Now that I play on an ice hockey team my dad is one of the coaches, and missed his first home game in over a year to coach me. I remember hearing my dad tell me stories about how he and his friend were the only 2 at a bar in Massapequa watching the Islanders win the Stanley Cup in 1980, and about how good the Islanders were, and about the crazy crowds. His favorite player growing up was Bryan Trottier, and when the Islanders sponsored a trip for my ice hockey team to go to China for 10 days who else would the Isles send but Bryan Trottier! Yes, I went to China with my dad for hockey, and was sponsored by the Islanders, and yes, Bryan Trottier was my coach for that trip. As awesome as it was for me, my dad must have been ecstatic listening to Trottier tell stories about the Dynasty Era of the Islanders, that you could only hear straight from the horses mouth. Whether at NVMC for playoff games, at camp watching John Tavares being selected on a 10″ screen with me, or coaching me on the bitterly cold winter mornings at Grant, you have always been there for me. Thank You so much dad!-Harrison
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StevieL says:
Too many memories!! Dad was primarily a baseball guy, but when he saw i loved hockey he picked it up! I played in High SchooL at the the old Long Island arena and whats funny, is out of 100 people at the games, I could always hear his voice cheering for me! He was a banker on LI and always had a client throw him a couple of tickets! Great times! He loved Gillies and Trottier!! Rags-Isle games were always the best!A great satisfaction for me was that in his later years I got the chance to call him a couple of times and say” Hey Dad I got a couple of tickets, you want to go?” Full circle!! He’s gone just about 5 years now and I miss him every day!In the quiet times I still hear him cheering! Enjoy your Dads! Life is short! Happy Fathers day to all!
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Anthony says:
My fondest childhood memories were at NVMC sitting along side my dad, who recently passed away. He spoiled me, 20+ games a year through the mid-70′s and dynasty years…
In 1983 we were enroute to the game four clincher over Edmonton in the Finals, my dad said, “how many lawn-cuttings do I get this summer out of you for that ticket?” I looked at the ticket price & said “two”. A guy pops his head into our car and says “$1000 buys a pair.” My dad said , “son, you’ll be cutting the lawn all summer!”
I’ve had season tix now for 15 years, a 10 year old son who’s a die-hard Islanders fan, and he gets the same lectures from me that I’d have to listen to on the way to games with my dad… do well in school, listen to your mother, don’t fight with your sister, clean your room, yadda yadda yadda!!!
I tear up inside thinking of my dad every time I go with my little guy. I just pray that my son stays healthy & he could see a Stanley Cup hoisted while sitting by my side. MEMORIES FOREVER…
Happy Fathers Day
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My dad is not much of a sports fan, but he did put bets down on various games when I was a kid. I have vague memories of my dad turning on hockey games when I was little-7,8,9- and I remember asking him to turn it off so I could watch Laverne and Shirley or Mork and Mindy or something ridiculous like that lol. I realized decades later that was the peak of the Islanders dynasty I was asking my dad to turn off. (Sigh.) He stopped betting on sports games after that time and didnt really pay attention to hockey after that. Years later I asked my dad which hockey team he bet on (to know whose games I was asking him to turn off) and he said, “Well, The Islanders- because you always expected them to win.”
Nowadays, when I talk to my dad, he always knows things that are going on with the Isles. He will mention to me if a player is hurt or gets a hattrick or say something like, “The Isles beat the Oilers! Were you at the game?” He is what you could honestly call an Isles fan all because he knows I love it and wants to share that with me. And, I really love him for that.
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Steven says:
Time for this dad to say thank you to my son. I love texting him Chris Botta stuff while he’s at school. And nothing would make me happier than to share a playoff game with him at the barn.
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CJCB says:
1979 Madison Square Garden playoffs between Isles/Rags my Dad was a city cop who got to work security at the Garden at the time and he got to bring me to the game. I had to stand but i got to go up to the glass around the corner of the rink and was able to score a puck hit out by Bryan Trottier, i still have it to this day! I will always remember the game it was an awesome first game. I also got to high 5 the Isles players coming off the ice during Lafontaine’s(me and my sister were HUGE fans) rookie year, another night i will always remember.
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Sal says:
would love to thank my dad for helping start my Islander’s insane fandom. He got a chance to get 1/2 season tickets for my brother and I for the 84-85 season and for that season until my older brother got his driver’s license in March, Dad drove my us to the game from Queens and picked us up afterwards. One of the many small gestures of love and his commitment to being a great dad he has shown over the years and continues to do so today. Thanks,Dad.
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Jakeisles says:
My Dad took my to so many Islander games when I was young, we really enjoyed going to them together. I can remember playing street hockey everyday after school with my brothers and a couple of friends, my Dad and the dogs would join in a few times as well. We played with 2 wooden goals that my father made out of wood – these things laster forever because when my Dad made something it lasted. I thank my Dad for making sure we played outside everyday and this is the reason why I love the Islanders so much and why hockey is the best sport around.
God bless you Dad, we all love you!
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Rich says:
I grew up as a Yankees, Giants, and Islanders fan because of my dad. Even though the other two are the only ones that have one championships during my lifetime, the Islanders have always been my favorite for one reason. When I was little, everytime the Islanders scored my Dad would pick my sister and I up individually and throw us up towards the ceiling in the den of our house a couple times. It was such a simple thing but when we were little it was so much fun. The excitement that we felt while sitting there on the couch next to him in anticipation of hearing the announcer yell GOAL! is in my opinion the reason I love the sport so much. We had no idea what was going on in the game but we knew that when he yelled GOAL we were getting tossed haha. Obviously I’m older now and he doesn’t throw us around anymore but the excitement I feel while watching an Islanders game with him and celebrating a goal remains the same. I Love You Dad, Thank You for ALWAYS being the BEST Dad in the world.
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ron says:
the old man and i never got along too well, except when there was an Isles game on. i remember when i was 8 and beginning to watch hockey, i wore a rangers t-shirt in front of my pops and he said “don’t be an idiot, you’re from Long Island. root for the home team.” sure enough, i converted. today, 26 and still an islanders fan…because pops and i are from long island.
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The Losers says:
My old man has been a die hard blue skirts fan for as long as I remember, so when I got into hockey (in 1999) I decided ill be a fan of the other NY team as I’m from Brooklyn and geographically Brooklyn and Nassau are on the same land mass and the Rags play across the bridge… so here I am now a die hard Isles fan. During hockey season when I’m at my parents me and my dad argue and yell all about Isles, Rags, and the NHL and drive my mom crazy, all is fair in love and war I guess lol… now the biggest challenge is to get my son on the Isles bandwagon, before my pops gets to him.
Go Isles! -
Dr. Generosity says:
My dad caught the hockey bug at Clarkson. I remember him driving us to many games during the dynasty era, taking the side streets from O’Side/RVC to the Coliseum, with WGBB on the radio, and half of the Island trekking to the game as well. I also remember the old, smoky Arena Club—we spent a lot of time in there! I got my first auto, from Bill Smith, there, at dad’s urging. I didn’t want to do it, I was 9 years old and didn’t have a pen, and was scared that Battlin’ Bill would snarl at me. Dad said, try anyway! Of course, Billy signed (after he raised his eyebrows and found me a pen) and I still have the auto to this day. Years later, the family moved off LI, and even though Dad wasn’t as much a hockey fan anymore, he built a 8′ satellite dish to get us SportsChannel. I couldn’t make the 2002 playoffs, but Dad was in the NYC area that week, and I gave him tix to the game where Bates scored on the penalty shot. Just a small repayment of a debt from son to dad that can’t ever be fully repaid. Thanks Chris for suggesting this topic and for keeping the site going.
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Seth says:
Just want to thank my dad for supporting me in everything I have done in life. Spending thousands of dollars on hockey tickets to watch a terrible Islander team, waking up at 4:30 in the morning and driving me to practice and so on and so on. Could not ask for a better father.
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geduffer says:
Dad wasn’t really into hockey, but he got a friend’s season tickets for a game back in the post Stanley Cup 80s and I was able to sit and explain the game to him. He passed on in 1992, so that was the only time we experienced hockey together. Happy Father’s Day to Chris and all the other Dads out there.
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TimQ says:
I grew up on Long Island with 4 brothers and a father who were all Ranger fans. My dad was one of the those Ranger fans who suffered through 50+ years of losing hockey, but loved the game so much that he took all of us to see the upstart Islanders when they arrived in the early 70s. I was the rebel that broke ranks and decided to support the Islanders in those early years. I can’t tell you how much joy I got when the Islanders succeeded in the 70s and 80s … and the Rangers continued to fail. I must also admit that as hard as it was to see the Rangers win in 94, there was satisfaction in seeing my father get his payback after all those years of futility. He passed a few years ago but my brothers and I are thankful for him lighting the fire that turned all of us into hardcore hcokey fans.
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admin says:
Thank you for all the excellent contributions so far. For anyone who missed this over the weekend, I will keep this thread open until 2:00 pm Monday if others want to honor their fathers. I’ll definitely have a next post well before 2:00 pm. Thanks. Hope everyone enjoyed a nice weekend…CB
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Healy says:
My dad is the reason I am a hockey fan and player. He switched from Rangers to Islanders when he moved from Queens to Nassau in the late 70′s and started bringing me to Isles games when I was 4 yrs old. He also spent endless nights with me in our basement taking shot after shot on me with a tennis ball which made me into a fairly good goalie. Thanks Dad!
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es says:
It started when my father took me to an Islander – Ranger preseason game in ’72. I was seven and was hooked immediately. There wasn’t always money for tickets but we always made a few games each year (section 324) and the passion grew. We were fortunate enough to be at the Cup-clinching game against Minnesota. All these years later we still dissect just about every game and we go to our share of games. All of my siblings are just as diehard and we have Dad to thank for it.
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Dominick from Wake Forest, NC says:
I have great memories of my Dad introducing me to the game of hockey. I can remember my Dad taking me many times to Racquet and Rink (off 110)in Farmingdale to public skate and to see the Isles practice. I was probably 5 or 6 at the time and remember meeting all the Isles and getting their autographs (which I still have). Dad was and still is an Islander fan and I enjoy our hockey discussions more now than ever. As a hockey Dad and coach to my boys (7) and (5), I often wonder if they will remember the gazillion hours we spend on the ice or if they will grow to love the game as much as I do. Then again, I guess it doesn’t matter so much as long as we can spend our time together doing something we all enjoy. Thanks for the lessons Dad!Also just ordered the McKenzie book- it looks like a great read.
The old man is the only reason I like the Isles. Even when we moved to pa we still kept an interest in the team. Now I have my own family and we get together to either watch games or take day trips to LI to see them live. Those are some of the best memories in my young life.…and it has nothing to do with hockey.