It’s shorely a superb match.
Dozens of New York Islanders alumni, hailing from throughout Canada and elsewhere, have fortunately caught round Lengthy Island after their enjoying days, embracing a very completely different lifestyle as on a regular basis New Yorkers after the ice melts.
“I’ll by no means go away. I like it,” Ontario-born Islander Eric Cairns, who was with the staff from 1998 to 2004, informed The Submit on the eve of the 2025-26 NHL season started.
It’s a stark distinction from when the large bruising defenseman used to hightail it off Lengthy Island after the season ended throughout his enjoying days. He missed a few of Lengthy Island’s greatest choices in the summertime and was primarily uncovered to simply the Nassau Coliseum and the busy Hempstead Turnpike throughout the dreary winters.
Cairns solely obtained a greater glimpse after taking a job because the staff’s director of participant improvement and was right here year-round, finally settling down close to the Nice South Bay in West Islip.
“I simply fell in love with it in a different way,” mentioned Cairns, 51, who shortly turned infatuated with LI’s seashores, implausible golf programs, and a lady from Massapequa named Kimberly, whom he married quickly into his govt tenure.
Quebec’s Benoît Hogue, who spent 4 seasons with the Isles from 1991 to 1995, additionally settled on the island after his 2002 retirement — primarily to hit the attractive waters throughout summer time.
“I had my boat right here for 17 years,” mentioned the French Canadian ahead, 58, now dwelling in Babylon.
“Now I do a number of bike driving — I made a decision to change it up.”
Breaking the ice
A lot of the explanation for the strikes is because of the initiative taken by Ed Westfall, the Islanders’ first-ever captain, from the inaugural 1972 season via 1977.
“My first thought was, the place’s Lengthy Island?” mentioned the Ontario-born Westfall, who had gained two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins earlier than altering groups to the then-new Islanders.
“The closest I ever was got here was on a prepare from Boston to play the Rangers,” added the 85-year-old, who lives in Manhasset.
Westfall’s time on LI was tough and lonely at first.
His perspective modified after assembly with Islanders basic supervisor Invoice Torrey, who inspired Westfall to cease “feeling sorry for myself” and embrace the change of surroundings. He quickly began serving to different teammates do the identical.
He helped discover housing for gamers who have been new to the unfamiliar hockey territory, to higher assist them get located.
“I by no means appreciated to see what I had gone via,” the right-winger mentioned outdoors of a public skating rink in Calverton, LI, named in his honor.
“I didn’t wish to see guys must stay in a motel or a lodge.”
Westfall quickly helped set up a Lengthy Island-loving tradition amongst dozens of former gamers for over 50 years.
A brand new residence bench
Past indulging within the pure native magnificence, gamers like Hogue and Cairns, who each helped construct an Islanders-themed playground at Glen Cove’s YMCA on Monday, have been deeply dedicated to native involvement since settling down.
“We’re simply a part of the group. I’m an everyday man and that’s a part of what I really like,” mentioned Cairns.
Stanley Cup winner Hogue additionally coached youth hockey on the North Shore for the previous 5 years — all as a labor of affection.
“I used to be going to do it for one yr, however the dad and mom have been good and the youngsters, I simply beloved them and I didn’t wish to give up on them,” Hogue mentioned of his Rebels squad that performs in Dix Hills’ Clark Gillies Area, named for the late, iconic staff alum.
“And, if I attempted, the dad and mom would have mentioned ‘no, no, no, you’re not going anyplace,’” he joked.
It additionally helps that the alumni usually obtain standing ovations when they’re proven at residence video games inside UBS Area.
“Going to quite a few video games now actually makes you take pleasure in Lengthy Island,” mentioned Hogue, who’s admired for the 1993 staff’s unbelievable playoff upset over Mario Lemieux’s two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Westfall, too, receives reward for his groundwork that led to the staff’s 4 straight Stanley Cups from 1979 to 1983 — and even Cairns nonetheless will get love for punching out Maple Leafs’ Shayne Corson within the 2002 playoffs.
“The fan base is our coronary heart and soul,” mentioned Cairns.
“They’re a part of the staff with the help that we really feel on the ice — and even afterward.”
