{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "New York Islanders legend Pat Lafontaine coached San Jose Sharks forward Justin Bailey in high school." } }, { "id": "pz74t8ji-wva7jr7d", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/JLazzy23/status/1731452133327671509", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1731452133327671509", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bailey played for the Long Island Royals 16AAA team during the 2011-12 season. Lafontaine was the head coach, with another former NHLer, Steve Webb, as the assistant coach." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"I lived here in the Long Island area,\" Bailey told THN. \"I went to high school on Long Island for a year, and [I have] some buddies who live out here. I know with Pat, we were mostly going to New York Rangers games, but it's definitely cool to be playing here.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Sharks take on the Islanders tonight at UBS Arena. Bailey said his friends and family, including his parents, made it to the game against the Rangers on Sunday. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bailey attended St. Anthony's High School on Long Island while playing for LaFontaine's team. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"It seems like it was just yesterday I was playing for that team,\" Bailey said." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bailey told THN that he lived with LaFontaine and his son Daniel. Bailey and Daniel would finish the season tied for the team lead in points. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"It was a pretty fun year,\" Bailey told THN. \"We had a good team back in 16U. I got to learn so much from Pat. Just between the car rides to and from practice and being able to pick his brain for a year at 16. It was a time when I was looking forward to the draft and other things. It was pretty special.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Pat LaFontaine made that season extra special for his players. He partnered with the NHL to make a TV show to follow the team that season. It was filmed in a similar style to NFL's Hard Knocks." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iooox0Fyv8[/embed]" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"That was the first time in my life that I was around someone who every day, every week, was looking at a different angle of something in hockey,\" Bailey said about Pat. \"Just the way that he would see games and break games down. It was pretty special to be around.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Steve Webb gave Bailey a different perspective on the game of hockey." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"We had Steve Webb there as well. Our coaching staff had a lot of NHL experience,\" Bailey said. \"He was huge on the mental and recovery part of the game, even before it was popular back in 2012.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bailey has had an injury history throughout his time in the NHL. He has had surgery done on each shoulder that kept him out for an extended time." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"Mentally, injuries are tough. [Webb] was someone who was a huge help for me back in the day,\" Bailey said. \"Having the two perspectives of two NHL guys who are two different players definitely helped me at a young age.\" " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bailey is back on Long Island with the Sharks and will skate with more emotions tonight." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Pregame Preview #26: Sharks Visit Islanders; Zadina Returns" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "SPECULATION: Sharks No. 1 Defenseman's Name Involved In Trade Rumors" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "BREAKING: Sharks Add Two Players to IR" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "BREAKING: Top Sharks Prospect Left Off Preliminary World Juniors Roster" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Follow Max on Twitter: @Real_Max_Miller" ] } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTkwNDcwMzA3MzkwODQw/img_6014.jpg" }, "caption": "The Hockey News" } } ] }

THN EXCLUSIVE: Islanders Legend Pat LaFontaine Helped Justin Bailey Get To The NHL