The Royal Wedding

To end a week that included the Isles re-signing John Tavares to a long extension and Josh Bailey to a shorter one, a wedding.

In Islander lore, a Royal Wedding. 

This weekend, Brianna Gillies (daughter of Clark) and Justin Bourne (son of Bob) will take the one-way walk down the aisle. Two of the eight leading scorers in Isles history (542 goals, 1205 points, 8 Cups between them) will be the proud fathers.

As Justin explained here: http://www.jtbourne.com/breeding-the-uber-islander/ the seeds for this weekend were rekindled at his father's Hall of Fame night in 2006.

The fathers go way back...two of the Saskatchewan boys that made this franchise.  Perhaps - just perhaps - there was an early sign, before either the bride or groom were born.  It was April of 1980 -- Clark Gillies scored an overtime goal to beat the Bruins in game 1 and the very next night Bob Bourne scored to do the same in game 2.

Follow Justin's musings @jtbourne and as they in the old country: Mazel Tov!

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Tavares deal done!

Various sources, including @katiestrangESPN and @stapenewsday have confirmed it.  The Isles have announced a press conference for Thursday to announce the deal.  Terms appear to be 6 yrs/33 million.

Another NHL player signed a 6 year/$33 million deal this off-season.  His name is James Wisniewski.

Since late January, Isles have announced multi-year extensions with Moulson, Okposo, Grabner and now Tavares.  All of them, as well as Niederreiter, are under contract through at least 2013-2014.  If the term of Tavares' deal is correct it will take him through the 2017-18 season.  The only other Islander under contract for that season is Rick DiPietro.

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Nino and Rita

Really enjoyed this piece by Chris Botta on the relationship between Nino and "mental coach" Rita Sutter.

http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2011/09/how-nino-niederreiter-gets-an-edgedevelopment-assisted-by-swiss-based-mental-coach/

I've heard that name Sutter in Islander history before, too.
 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

@ChrisBottaNHL @elnino25

ex-Isles Morrow, Galley to be honored

It's been a good week to be Kenny Morrow.

Days after the Isles announced that he will be entering their Hall of Fame (on December 31st, prior to a matinee against Edmonton), his alma mater, Bowling Green State University, announced that it will retire his college number (#3) to its "Cast of Honor".  

Morrow's number will be honored for not only him but two other NHL standouts, Rob Blake and Garry Galley.  Galley played the final 56 of his 1,149 NHL games for the Isles in 2000-01.

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Re: Another season, another beat writer

Arthur's tweet about the beat includes the phrase "for now".   

"Big congrats to my old colleague @KatieStrangESPN, moved on to the bigger time. Follow me (for now) for all your #Isles news."  Arthur's handle is @stapenewsday

 

<<Congratulations to Katie Strang, who has left Newsday to cover hockey for ESPN.com  Looks like she'll be concentrating at least in part on the 3 local teams. Arthur Staple succeeds Katie on the Isles beat, who succeeded Greg Logan, who succeeded Alan Hahn...etc.  

Katie's new twitter handle is @KatieStangESPN >>

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Another season, another beat writer

Congratulations to Katie Strang, who has left Newsday to cover hockey for ESPN.com  Looks like she'll be concentrating at least in part on the 3 local teams. Arthur Staple succeeds Katie on the Isles beat, who succeeded Greg Logan, who succeeded Alan Hahn...etc.  

Katie's new twitter handle is @KatieStangESPN

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

Ex- Isles coach Laviolette remembers 9-11

9-11-01 was going to be a special day for Peter Laviolette.  His first official day as a head coach.

His memories, in a story in the (NJ) Courier Post.  http://www.courierpostonline.com/fdcp/?unique=1315801650910 

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick

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