Exclusive: Life As General Manager Bill Torrey's Son

It's Good To Be The King -- Mel Brooks in History Of The World, Part One

It also was a blast being the son of Bill Torrey, architect of the New York Islanders Dynasty.

Better still, Rich Torrey is around to tell what it was like being one of four princely sons of King Bow Tie Bill. The others being Willie -- the elder statesman -- Pete and, bringing up the rear, Artie.

Since The Maven has been closest to Prince Rich, 64, I decided to find out just what life was like in the hockey palace on Hempstead Turnpike during the Isles version of Camelot.

"Being the son of an NHL G.M. was a mixed bag," said Rich. "It meant a lot of time apart, but it also meant that we got a front row seat to many interesting moments."

Many of those early "moments" were spent in pre-Expansion Pittsburgh where Torrey was honing his managerial game to sharpness with the minor league Pittsburgh Hornets who happened to play in a major league-sized arena.

"We literally learned to skate on the Pittsburgh Civic Arena -- alias The Igloo -- ice," Rich recalled. "When Dad had to work on Saturday mornings, he would strap on our skates, lock us on the ice and head to his office for hours.

"Within minutes of him leaving, one of us would have to go to the bathroom.

And that meant climbing over the boards and walking skates on the cement floors to the restroom. But we had the rink to ourselves for hours and that was pure magic. Same thing in Oakland when Dad worked for the NHL Seals."

When Bow Tie Bill was hired as major domo of the Islanders, the four Torrey princes followed pop to Long Island. In my exclusive interview with Rich, he discussed the following topics:

THE GOOD LIFE OF BEING THE GM'S SON:

"We got to travel and saw games in cities all over the country -- including many in those old historic buildings. 

We sat in the locker rooms in between periods, watching coaches ranting and players getting stitched up. 

I remember watching Bob Dillagough of the Oakland Seals get his neck sewn up as he smoked a cigarette. And we got to be there in 1975 for the Islanders historic game seven in Pittsburgh when they came back from an oh-three deficit to win four straight games and the series."

HIS FAVORITE ISLANDERS:

"In my early and mid-teen years, many summers were spent on the ice at Islander hockey schools. That's where I got to know young players like Bob Nystrom, Garry Howatt, Dave Lewis and J.P. Parisi. One of the trainers was Jimmy Pickard who we knew from Oakland where he started his hockey career as a 16-year-old stickboy and gopher. 

I would say that in those days, Jimmy basically raised us. And players like Parise were our pals; even would have us over in the summer for a cookout!"

GETTING ALONG WITH AL ARBOUR:

"One of the great privileges was being close not only to Al but also his lovely wife, Claire, and the entire Arbour family. Radar, no question, was one of the greatest men I've ever had the opportunity to know -- and eventually work for. 

This truly was one of the great families. Claire was like a second mother to us. Being able to say that Al Arbour was my first boss is something that I'm profoundly proud to say. 

Overall, to be with Al and to witness the history of the Isles from those early painful years -- through the growing pains -- and to see him turn the franchise into the greatest team they became is something I'll never forget. What a run!"

WORKING WITH THE ISLES COACHING STAFF:

"My first job out of college was video-taping all games for Al. In those days we used VHS and I had to tape all of our games as well as Ranger games if it was against a future opponent. 

I had to then make tapes of all power plays and penalty kills and anything that stood out as noteworthy. For important games and the playoffs, I'd have a tape machine and monitor in the room across from the locker room to show Al or Lorne Henning clips in between periods. I also videoed some practices if Al thought it necessary to spotlight specific players."

INTENSITY OF THE WORK WITH ARBOUR:

"I had to watch the games carefully as he wanted me to keep a stats book for him that not only had stats the league kept, but stuff like face-offs won and lost; as well as hits and our own version of plus-minus as well as any noteworthy good or bad plays.

One of the best parts of the job was occasionally being sent to Hartford to advance scout teams we were going to be playing. Al would want me to find out line combinations and anything noteworthy. That was always a fun trip."

SUMMERS ON ICE WITH THE STARS

"I helped run the Islander Hockey School including one year with Neil Smith. We'd skate with the likes of Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine, Chico Resch and Jean Potvin, among others. These were some of the greatest people I've ever met. And then, or course, there was the captain, Denis Potvin -- the very best."

HOW BOW TIE BILL INFLUENCED HIM:

"My dad had a huge influence on me and it wasn't necessarily what he said, but in how he conducted his life. 

Quite honestly, it may only be after he passed away that I'd reflect on things he did. I really understood what I got from him. In other words it wasn't his successes, the Cups, the Hall of Fame and the banners that I really look at."

LOOKING BACKWARD AT HIS DAD:

"I knew that Dad's father had pressured him to work in Montreal or on Wall Street and Dad would not give in to that pressure. He listened to his heart and followed his passion. 

And when it came to chasing his dream, he had the same philosophy as me, which was, 'Hey, someone's doing it, why not me?' I know that he suffered many setbacks, disappointments, defeats and headwinds in Pittsburgh, Oakland and early on in Long Island -- even later in Florida with the Panthers -- yet he never quit."

HOW BOW TIE BILL HANDLED SUCCESS:

"When he did succeed -- probably beyond his wildest dreams -- he never looked back. He never really basked in the glory or adulation that comes with winning. In fact, he never wore his Stanley Cup rings. 

Each of the years that the Isles won the Cup, he took a week or so to rest, recoup, and then he didn't talk about it again. It was always all about the next season. He always looked forward. He was still looking for that fifth Cup right up until his passing."