Is there anyone better to learn from then Islanders legend Bobby Nystrom?
Is there anyone better to learn from then Islanders legend Bobby Nystrom?
MELVILLE, NY -- New York Islanders legend Bobby Nystrom was on-hand at All Sportz in Melville on Friday evening, teaching youth hockey players the basics to improve their game.
The Islanders hosted the event as a part of their street hockey program to get more of Long Island's youth excited about playing hockey, and it was a great turnout, with smiles and cheers all around.
Nystrom, who was part of the Islanders' dynasty and has his No. 23 hanging in the rafters at UBS Arena, passed the ball around at the first station, setting up the attendees to take shots on goal.
Passing a hockey ball with Nystrom is undoubtedly a moment that young Islanders fans in attendance will never forget.
"It's so important to have events like this," Nystrom told The Hockey News. "The thing is that we started a long time ago when we had the Junior Islanders, and I mean, they would go up [to tournaments] and represent the Long Island.
"There's nothing better. My son [former NHLer Eric Nystrom] went through this whole program from the time he was a minor all the way to making the pros, so we got to start at this level. I got two grandkids now, and they're playing hockey. It's a great sport because it teaches you values, how to work hard and how to work with people. It's just a great, great sport."
THN asked Nystrom if seeing these kids running around brought him back to his childhood.
"They're a little bit better than I was. But honestly, I had the greatest memories when I played," Nystrom said. "I grew up in a small town, and other people were out every day during the winter on the street, on the creaks, and on the lakes. It's just beautiful."
Nystrom loves the idea of The Park at UBS Arena and wasn't expecting it to actually be two rinks.
"It's absolutely amazing. I was so shocked when they told me I was gonna go outside to the rink," Nystrom said." I thought it would be something like [Friday's event], where people would be running, not skating. To see these two rinks is absolutely fantastic."
The community and attending events like these are vital to Nystrom.