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UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Clark Gillies and Bob Nystrom were back at the Nbadau Coliseum, which hosted the New York Islanders for their four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983.
Now refurbished as part of NYCB Live, the Islanders will host the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday in the first of 21 home games played this season.
"I've never seen the old place so beautiful," said Gillies, who has played 12 seasons for the Islanders, including the four winning teams in the Cup. "I think the fans are going to be the big winners, this place is beautiful, they have done a great job in this regard."
After unsuccessful attempts to retain the Islanders in Nbadau County, they left the Coliseum, their home since joining the NHL in 1972, expiring their lease following the 2014-15 season and were transferred to Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Coliseum has undergone renovations worth $ 165 million and has 13,900 spectators for hockey, compared to 16,234 before the move.
In January, it was announced that the Islanders would be back in their home for 60 games (now 61, their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Feb. 28 was moved out of Barclays Center) during the 2020 season -21 NHL. The state of New York then pledged to bring $ 6 million to the Coliseum to meet the requirements of the NHL, investing in particular in the redundancy and dehumidification of ice plants, as well as in the media cabling infrastructure and broadcasting.
The Islanders, who are scheduled to relocate to a new arena in Belmont Park, Elmont, NY, for the start of the 2021-22 NHL season, have spent $ 4 million to renovate their locker rooms and facilities.
Gillies and Nystrom, who played in the 14 seasons of the NHL with the Islanders from 1972 to 1986, toured the improved hall on Wednesday.
"It's absolutely fantastic," said Nystrom, who pitched the Islanders dynasty at the Coliseum with an overtime goal in the sixth game of the 1980 Stanley Cup final against the Philadelphia Flyers. "We have so many memories here, just by talking to the fans, they are absolutely thrilled that the team is coming back here to play games, which makes it much easier for the youth to look at the team. I'm delighted and I think it'll be a good thing for Long Island.
"You look at all the buildings that have been replaced: Boston, Buffalo, the Penguins … they were so tight at the time that it was just a little different.Return here and see how that's going. is now, and was, it's going to be fantastic. "
The current team is excited too.
Island Captain Anders LeeThe first full season of the NHL was the last at the Coliseum. He was in training for two of their three home games against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015, a series the Islanders lost in seven games.
"I'm surprised the roof is still there," Lee said. "I can not tell you how many games we have won this year just because we had the momentum of the crowd behind us – a good transition in three with this momentum, this energy in this building. this advantage of ice cream at home was probably the most obvious that I had really seen it.
"Coming back to that, it's going to be exciting to come back in. Obviously, in the playoffs, it's been taken to a different level."
Islanders coach Barry Trotz was on the other side of the series as a Capitals coach. He remembers the decibel levels achieved by the Coliseum for Games 3, 4 and 6.
"I'm excited about the people of the island," said Trotz. "I think it will be a special day, it will be special to be back, I think it's the right place for that, it's good."
Even with new seats, a coat of fresh paint and improved equipment, Gillies is delighted that the Coliseum has the same feel. The memories come back to him every time he walks through the door.
"We went down these halls a few times," Gillies said. "A thousand times in and out of this lane, and most of the time, we were coming and going, we were celebrating a win, it's a special place for all of us who have played in these teams." be back … it's so exciting to have the Islanders at home where they belong.
"It's going to be a totally different experience for fans back here at the Coliseum than it is at Barclays Center, I'm delighted, I can not wait."
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