When you think about the more than 50-year history of the New York Islanders, so many people have had a profound impact on the organization. One of those individuals is Ed Westfall, the first captain of the Islanders who went on to a long run as an analyst in the Islanders' television booth.
Known to Islanders Country as "18", Westfall, who continues to call Long Island home all these years later and has been an ambassador to the franchise, was honored this past Saturday with the naming and dedication of "Ed Westfall Arena" at Peconic Ice Rinks in Calverton.
The facility brings a year-round ice-skating venue and training site to the east end of Long Island.
"You can never train for having somebody say to you one day Ed we want to name the arena complex after you," Westfall told me last week on my YouTube show "SportsBash". "When two people say they want to name an arena after you in Calverton, obviously I had a lot of tears in my eyes…happiness."
Those two people are Troy and Caryn Albert, the Co-Founders of the Peconic Hockey Foundation. More than 600 people were on hand Saturday for the ribbon-cutting including Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky and Islanders alumni including John Tonelli, Pat LaFontaine and Steve Webb. Westfall has been a huge supporter of youth hockey in the area and now the full-sized NHL "bubble rink" will host high school and college hockey teams as well as figure skaters who have been in need of a year-round practice site.
And there will eventually be an outdoor rink to go along with Ed Westfall Arena. It's a facility that was needed desperately and has been in the works for a long time.
"When you think of going to Orient Point or anywhere on either fork, it was almost 80 miles from the end to get to Hauppauge (where "The Rinx" complex is). "I think of all the time and all the effort that other people…that they have put into this to make it happen over probably close to a ten-year period…those people really deserve the recognition. I think of Troy and Caryn Albert. They were the spearheads behind this."
Westfall is so deserving of this honor.
When the franchise began in 1972, the roster was stocked with draft picks as well as castoffs from other teams who were left unprotected for the expansion draft.
One of those "castoffs" was Westfall who had just won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins. He was a little apprehensive about coming to Long Island.
"You're always a little concerned," said Westfall. "I was scared to death. When I got down here, two great guys who turned out to be also good friends Roy Boe, the owner back then of the Islanders, and [general manager] Bill Torrey…when they explained to me what they were going to try and do, after a couple of times with them I bought in."
Westfall was named the first Captain of the Islanders and wore the orange and blue for seven seasons as the franchise was building the dynasty team. After the 1978-79 season, Westfall retired and moved to the broadcast booth and was part of an iconic duo with Jiggs McDonald. He was inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame in 2011 with a plaque on display at the team's Hall of Fame wall in the concourse of UBS Arena. His name is also on a Hall of Fame banner that hangs from the rafters.
There are many people, including myself, who feel that the Islanders should retire Westfall's number 18. When you factor in his playing career, his broadcasting career and what he has meant to the Long Island community, it would be an honor well-deserved.
I told Westfall that we need to have a sit down with Jon Ledecky to talk about a few things. Eighteen needs to be retired and we need to get Jiggs McDonald and Pat LaFontaine in the Islanders Hall of Fame.
"I'll tell him look out…you're going to get worked on," said Westfall with a laugh.
You can't help but be all smiles when you think about Ed Westfall's long association with the Islanders and his impact on youth hockey on Long Island.
