My return to UBS Arena was everything I expected -- and more.
The minute I walked through the doors of UBS Arena on Tuesday night, I was reminded of my childhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and a tune I loved then -- and still do now.
"You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To."
And so it was.
For The Hockey Maven -- alias "Mave" -- it was like a mass reunion as pal after pal either hugged me a "Hey, Stan," or allowed me to do the same and vice versa.
It was all about love -- from me and for me and never stopped being -- well -- just plain wonderful.
Having spent a large chunk of my life broadcasting New York Islanders games -- first for SportsChannel and then MSG Networks -- I couldn't wait to meet again on the sunny side of love.
The second I set eyes on my beautiful and talented pal, Shannon Hogan, it lit up my moment like nobody's business. And then to do a fun interview with her -- Shannon always brings out the laughs in me -- was like gravy on my sirloin steak.
Simply put, we had a sweet time; as we always did.
Off-Ice supervisor Jeff Weintraub -- we go back a zillion years -- warmed my heart with his greeting as did one of my all-time favorite cameramen, Johnny Ackerina and the hockey world's all-time stat king, Eric Hornick.
Interspersed with the broadcast gang were my personal heroes, the Islanders fans.
I made sure to set aside a good pre-game hour to autograph copies of the 50th anniversary Islanders book, which I co-authored with my pal and rep, David Kolb, who was side by side with me as I wrote and -- more importantly -- schmoozed hockey with the Islanders legion of supporters. (My other co-author and funny man, Zach Weinstock, arrived a bit later for more guffaws.)
Play-by-play star Brendan Burke had become fast friends while I still was doing MSG Networks games, and it gave me a big kick seeing him along with my eternal Isles hero -- he SHOULD be in the Hall of Fame -- Butch Goring.
Butch's wife, the ever-gorgeous and gifted Paula McHale, had been my MSG producer for many years, and it was so-so nice to be gifted with a hug from Paula, who looks like she still hasn't reached age 30.
This was an endless dream-come-true highlighted by the fact that my lovely Israeli grandchildren, Odel, 19, and Ariel, 18, were there for the spectacular come-from-behind Isles victory of Chicago. (And thanks to Table Hockey magnate John Fayolle and Ursula Fayolle for shepherding them to UBS.)
I also gave a huge hug to Ex-NHL goalie and Chi broadcaster Darren Pang, who showed up out of the shadows for a brief kibbitz.
You get the message; I could go on and on distributing my endless gratitude for being there to share my joy.
For sure, the Islanders' Ice Palace was "So Nice To Come Home To."
Thank you ALL for making it so memorable a lifetime night for The Maven.