Both during his successful playing days -- and thereafter -- Patrick Flatley has graced innumerable charitable events both on Long Island as well as the rest of the continent called North America.

Patrick Flatley knows about charity as well as he once mastered the National Hockey League boards during his 14-year iconic career with the New York Islanders.

Both during his successful playing days -- and thereafter -- Flatley has graced innumerable charitable events both on Long Island as well as the rest of the continent called North America.

But if you ask this master stickhandler -- and former captain -- to name his favorite charity it would be the one right on the Island in lovely Downtown Albertson.

It's now called The Viscardi Center -- formerly The Henry Viscardi School -- or to friends everywhere just plain "HVS.

The Maven happens to know all about HVS from a very personal viewpoint.

Back in the 1992-93 NHL season -- the year when the Isles upset the Stanley Cup champion Penguins -- I happened to be hands-on with hockey at HVS along with Isles sharpshooter of yesteryear, Derek King.

Granted it was "adaptive" -- or wheelchair -- hockey but what mattered is that it was great fun even if I had to be the referee as the photo shows. That's Kinger in the wheelchair and ex-Isles radio play-by-play ace Barry Landers ready for my face-off drop.

But I digress. This piece is about Flats, HVS and my close pal, Jake April, who tipped me off about Patrick's visit to Albertson earlier this month.

That was when HVS held its annual wheelchair hockey game; and it was a thriller. On one side was Team Isles -- paced by none other than Flatley and ex-Islander Radek Martinek -- and on the other side was Team Viscardi Alumni.

It's worth remembering that the Islanders and the Viscardi Center have for years been brothers-and-sisters in arms assisting individuals with disabilities. 

This year there was an extra added attraction thanks to Isles employee Todd Decker and HVS alumni.

They call it "The Cougar Cup," otherwise known as The Stanley Cup of their wheelchair championship. Decker has been impressed with Flats' involvement for years.

READ MORE: Isles Staff and Viscardi School Alumni Celebrate Hockey is for Everyone

"Patrick is one of those friends who does not give a crap about my disability" Decker candidly said. "But at the same time he never forgets that I have one."

The closely-played tournament resulted in a 4-3 HVS victory and first Cougar Cup presentation.

Credit to Martinek who scored a goal for Team Isles and Flats for his dedicated presence.

"What I learned from this game and from Viscardi opponents," Flats explained, "is the importance of a better attitude and effort in life."

Although he was held scoreless Patrick waxed lyrical about the entire ambience at HVS.

"This is my favorite event that I've ever done," he told Jake April who was covering the tournament. "One of the reasons I like it so much is that I never know what to expect. Plus, I love the one-hundred percent effort the HVS kids put into the competition."

I vividly remember past Islanders becoming role models for HVS students and alumni such as Jake April. "Right from the get-go as I was growing up I looked to the Islanders for inspiration," Jake explained.

On this day, Martinek was one who inspired inspiration. He gave it all he had operating from a wheelchair and not on skates and emerged impressed with the skill level of HVS players despite having to stickhandle from wheelchairs.

"I admire them tremendously," Radek asserted. "I found it very challenging to play from a wheelchair."

Flatley: "It's great to play against and to inspire those here at Viscardi. My hope is that both the HVS alumni as well as the students here take away some kind of mentorship from my visit and Radek's as well.

"Members of the Islanders alumni are always available to help. HVS should always feel that it can look to us as sounding boards now and in the future."

In addition to Decker -- he's a member of the Islanders Game Presentation Department -- other team staff members contributed to the event. One was Ana Rina, the club's Executive Director of Community Relations for the past 18 years. Her admiration of HVS knows no bounds.

"The HVS faculty and staff put a tremendous amount of time and effort into helping people with different kinds of disabilities," Rina asserted. "For us it's an honor and pleasure to play a part in shining the light for this great organization."

From The Maven's viewpoint, one of the most admirable aspects of the Isles-HVS coupling is its longevity. Viscardi's President and CEO Dr. Christopher Rosa underlined this point in his interview with Jake April.

"The Islanders have been a cherished partner and friend of Viscardi for more than four decades," said Dr. Rosa. "And it's all to generate awareness and the importance of inclusion and support in empowering our mission."

Many of the spectators and players echoed the "Never Give Up" mantra. In fact, long-time

Isles fan Noah Probert of Wantagh -- a part of HVS since 2018 -- put it well when he stated:

"I stress the importance of attitude and to be active."

Then a pause: "And never leave the disabled out!"

Noah can be sure that Patrick Flatley never will stop making that point on behalf of the Islanders. What's more, this Cougar Cup event emphasizes that the bond between the Islanders and The Viscardi Center should be a model for other pro teams.

Playing against former NHLers taught the students what it means to be a big-leaguer. Likewise, the students taught Flats and Radek that anybody and everybody can use that hockey stick and play the game.