Great New York Islanders Nicknames

Nicknames have been part of the woof and warp of hockey history from that day -- more than a century ago -- when Fred Taylor suddenly became Cyclone Taylor. Let's dive into some of the great New York Islanders nicknames.

Stan Fischler's NYS Hockey Hall of Fame Induction

There never was anything wrong with being a Bernard Geoffrion; nor Maurice Richard, for that matter.

But, somewhere along the way, "Boom Boom" sounded better than Bernard, and "Rocket" was so much more exciting than Maurice.

Nicknames have been part of the woof and warp of hockey history from that day -- more than a century ago -- when Fred Taylor suddenly became Cyclone Taylor.

Goalie Glenn Resch was just fine until some tv-addicted ticket-holder recalled that one of the all-time favorite New York Islanders netminders reminded him of a tv character from "Chico And The Man." Poof! Just like that, he became Chico Resch.

Likewise, left wing Clark Gillies emerged as "Jethroe" while the oft-belligerent William Smith was transformed into "Battlin' Billy."

There were a pair of "Chairman Of The Boards," starting with John Tonelli in the late 1970s, followed by Patrick Flatley in the later 1980s.

Dave Langevin, one of the most thudding body checkers in NHL annals, deserved the moniker "Bam Bam" or "Bammer," depending upon the occasion.

We all remember J.P. Parise's 1975 playoff winner against the Rangers. Likewise, AMC Motors had no problem when "Jeep" became Parise's handle. (It also reminded me of MSG Networks' producer Roland Dratch's venerable auto -- The Jeep.)

Also, I have to keep reminding myself that neither Boss, Potsy, Flats, nor Heals count as legit nicknames because they -- as one sage put it -- "are just 'hockey names' and, therefore, don't count."

The following are legitimate handles that do count:

RADAR: Hall of Fame coach Al Arbour earned that one when he played defense for a Cup-Winning Red Wings sextet. Motor City manager Jack Adams got a kick out of Al wearing spectacles when he played on the blue line. Radar seemed appropriate under the circumstances.

THE ARCHITECT: This nickname fit Bow Tie Bill Torrey as neatly as his hand-tied cravats. After all, the club's original general manager was the one who crafted -- along with sidekick Jim Devellano -- the club that won four consecutive Stanley Cups; not to mention 19 straight playoff series victories.

MISTER LONG ISLAND: How could it not be none other than Bob Nystrom? The Man is forever etched in Islanders history for scoring the overtime goal against Philadelphia that propelled the Nassaumen to their first Stanley Cup in the spring of 1980. To this day, Ny is hailed for that feat wherever he goes; and rightly so.

SLIPPERY PETE: That's "Pete," for Pierre Turgeon, who ranks among the Islanders all-time best stick handlers and playmakers -- not to mention goal-scorers. It's also worth noting that the French-Canadian with the magical hands also had to follow one of the greatest acts ever on the Island -- succeeding Pat LaFontaine. Turgeon did so with magical aplomb.

CAPTAIN CRUNCH: On first look, you'd never mistake Michael Peca for a hard-hitting body checker, but let me tell you this: you'd never want to get in the former captain's way when he was delivering a thump to the enemy. Underrated as an Isles leader, Peca ranks among the most inspirational captains of anyone who wore the "C" on his jersey.

BROCKTOBER: I must credit my co-author Zachary Weinstock for this forgotten gem. It fit Brock Nelson like a Brooks Brothers suit at the start of the 2014-15 season. That was when the big Minnesotan had a hot run as the leaves fell in a sweet Long Island autumn. (Weinstock and I co-authored "Rangers vs. Islanders -- The Rivalry.")

STUMPY: I doubt that sharpshooting Steve Thomas was aware that his nickname originally belonged to a vaudeville act called "Stump and Stumpy." However, Steve might agree that his fireplug physique reminded folks like The Maven of fire hydrants back in old Brooklyn. And when I think of Stumpy, I recall the two goals he scored against the Lightning near the end of the 1993-94 season to beat Tampa Bay 2-0. The two red lights lifted the Isles into the playoffs.

CHICKEN PARM, RADIO RAY: Take your pick, and you will be on target if you selected our 1993 playoff hero. Ray Ferraro. His pass to David Volek in Game Seven of the Isles-Penguins tourney helped win the series. And if any fans know the reason why a Ferraro inspires either a parm or a radio, please let me know. I'm still wondering!