Hockey Hall of Famer and Islanders great Pat LaFontaine was born in St. Louis, but was raised in Michigan and spent a good part of his childhood learning how to play the game of hockey on an outdoor rink. So, he has a deeper appreciation for what the NHL has done with the presentation of outdoor games, including the "Winter Classic" and "Stadium Series," and now is excited about what the Islanders have added to their fabulous new home with "The Park" at UBS Arena.
The new area, located just outside of the main entrance to UBS Arena, opened on Wednesday, and resides on what would normally be the paddock area for Belmont Park. But, while the iconic racetrack undergoes significant renovations, the space is now an setup that features two outdoor hockey ponds, beer gardens, carnival games, an Islanders pop-up SWAG shop, and a new set for the Islanders' pre and postgame shows on MSG Network.
"I couldn't be more excited," said LaFontaine during our phone conversation for my Double Chili Islanders Podcast. "To see the Islanders put in two rinks and be able to bring that to the fans, along with beer gardens and firepits and carnival games and food…I know the Islanders fans have missed the tailgating piece at the (Nassau) Coliseum, but I think this is a winter wonderland. This is like ten times anything I could ever have imagined or thought of."
"The Park" is a collaboration between the Islanders, the New York Racing Association, Northwell Health, and USA Hockey, and is laid out over 155,800 square feet of space. Another key person in this project is former NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins, who is credited with creating the NHL Winter Classic in 2008. He joined the Islanders' ownership group this past June, and is running the team's business operations.
"John connected here with the Islanders and has done so much for the sport, and connecting us to the soul and the very beginning of our game at its roots," LaFontaine said.
The new outdoor space only adds to how wonderful the Islanders' home really is. When it opened in 2021, UBS Arena was just part of the development planned for the Belmont Park area; after the inaugural 2021-22 season, construction began on the retail plaza that is being built next to the Belmont Park Garage, and once everything is completed, UBS Arena hopes to be able to hope marquee league events like the NHL Draft and NHL All-Star Game.
"I don't think there's a better building," said LaFontaine. "We loved the Coliseum, but with all the bells and whistles, there's not a better rink in the NHL than right here at Belmont at UBS Arena. For Islanders fans who waited a long time to have a home like this, it's spectacular, and now to add the destination of "The Park," I can't think of a better experience for families, hockey lovers and fans."
LaFontaine has certainly been more visible at Islanders games over the last couple of years, and that is something that Islanders fans have waited a long time to see. Drafted third overall by the Isle in 1983, LaFontaine joined the team after the 1984 Winter Olympics and helped them get to their fifth straight Stanley Cup Final, where the dynasty came to an end with a loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
He had eight dynamic seasons on Long Island, scoring 287 goals which ties him with Brent Sutter for 5th place on the team's all-time list, and his 566 points wearing the orange and blue places him eighth in team history. But after a contract dispute with former Islanders owner John Pickett, LaFontaine was traded by GM Bill Torrey to the Buffalo Sabres in 1991, and ultimately played the final season of his career with the Rangers before retiring in 1998.
LaFontaine returned to the Islanders organization in 2006 as an adviser to owner Charles Wang, but resigned after being in that position for 40 days when Wang fired General Manager Neil Smith. It was another painful divorce between the team and one of its legendary players, but now it seems as if fences have been mended between LaFontaine and the organization.
You can credit the new ownership group for that.
"It starts at the top with any business," said LaFontaine. "Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky and John Collins have done a phenomenal job. What they've done for the Islanders, this building alone, for the fans and the alumni…I have to say they've done an amazing job of really bringing back and making the alumni part of everything and sharing the history of the team. It's so important to have the history and the ownership has done a tremendous job at bringing to life the history."
Ah, yes, the history which LaFontaine was a big part of, including him scoring one of the most iconic goals in team history during the Islanders' opening-round playoff series in 1987 against the Capitals. The game started on Saturday night, April 18, and ended early on Easter Sunday morning when LaFontaine scored in the fourth overtime to give the Islanders a 3-2 win in what is referred to as "The Easter Epic."
It's a moment that brings a smile to LaFontaine's face every time he is asked about it…which includes me about a million times.
"I never get tired about it even though it happened a long time ago," laughed LaFontaine.
On that play, defenseman Gord Dineen came out in front from behind the net and his shot deflected out to LaFontaine just inside the blue line. With forward Dale Henry providing a screen in front of Capitals goalie Bob Mason, LaFontaine delivered a "knuckle puck" long before "The Mighty Ducks" movie was released.
"I just grabbed it and spun around, and now looking back, the puck was actually on its side…it was rolling," recalled LaFontaine. "I just shot it and I said, 'please hit the net.' I think I threw a little knuckler in there because it was rolling. I heard the post and then there was a moment where everything just stood still. I saw Mason drop to his knees and Dale Henry jumped up. I give Dale Henry a lot of credit. Dale was the guy screening Bob Mason and then it was just pure joy."
And these days, LaFontaine has been pleased with the way that the Islanders have been playing (other than Wednesday night's 7-0 loss to the Penguins). In fact, LaFontaine is appreciative of what President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has built since taking the reins of the Islanders in 2018.
"The culture, the character, and just the feeling of what it means to be an Islander…it feels like that again," said LaFontaine. "Lou has done a phenomenal job. It's great to see. Now we got to see a Stanley Cup. We want to see another banner. It's been too long. We're going on 40 years, so it's time."
It's great to hear Pat LaFontaine using the "we" when talking about the Islanders, because that's been a long time coming. While the 1991 trade with Buffalo stocked the Islanders with players like Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, and Uwe Krupp and set the scene for a run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1993, LaFontaine should have been an Islander for life.
And now that he's been active as an Islander alum, it's time for the organization to right the wrong that has been going on for years. While there is a debate as to whether or not his No. 16 should be retired, there is no doubt that LaFontaine should be in the Islanders Hall of Fame.
It's time.
