Pat LaFontaine Inducted Into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame | Full Ceremony

Pat LaFontaine Inducted Into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame | Full Ceremony

You know, just being honored at home, I think makes a big big difference. It’s just hard to believe you’re inducted to any hockey hall of fame on this fabulous night. I will never ever forget dedication, grit, heart, and leadership. The importance of it is who you played with, how you helped, and the fact that we drafted memories together that’ll never be forgotten. From the first time I stepped on the ice here, I always felt a ton of support. To be honored and to come back and to be reminded of the great good fortune you received on Long Island specifically was very memorable. It’s an honor that’s being bestowed upon me because a lot of guys helped me get to this point. For me, it just really put a real nice cap on the whole career and just recognized the fun I had. I think being an Islander, you just won’t know how much it means to me. It means a great deal. You don’t think about being in the Hall of Fame. You don’t think about having your picture or your name on the wall. But when it happens, then you then again, you just kind of realize that, okay, I’m I’m not here for a short time. I’m going to be here for a long time. And there’s young Pat La Fontaine who’s got a couple of goals tonight. His first and second and what I’m sure is going to be a long and illustrious career. Like most of the young players that get drafted, we’re kind of eager to see them at training camp. You don’t want to get the wrong impression. It’s up to them to paint their own picture and make their own impression. And it was wonderful. You know, you saw this young kid who could skate like the wind. He was certainly way above our expectations as far as skill and he was just so hungry to learn and I swear to God he could take a step and he could be 10 ft over here and with these skates he just was able to turn so quickly you know it was impressive in Lefontaine pulls up bulls on victory he scores well I think the comparison I could make with him and Mike Bossi is that this is a guy that wanted to score like this was a big part of his game when you’re that driven to score with the skills, you know, you’re going to have success. That tough a screen in front. Then a shot is blocked. Goes back to Leontaine. Turns, lets it go. He scores. My oh my. Oh my. He was able to weave and bob and then he would just dish it off. There wasn’t anyone on the team that skated as well as him. Leontaine. That one will count. 50 for Pat Leonte. Pat made himself a part of this community. He still lives here. He’s a Long Islander and that speaks volumes in itself. involved in community and helpful in charities and, you know, making an impact in people’s lives. Anybody that knows him, anybody that’s worked with him, all the charitable work he’s done, all the giving back he’s done and continues to do, he’s a Hall of Fame player on the ice and a Hall of Fame person off the ice. Isles Nation, please welcome the master of ceremonies for today’s Islanders Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Islanders legendary broadcaster, Jiggs McDonald. Thank you, Alex. Thank you, Al Nation. I’m honored to be back here this afternoon for a very special day in New York Islanders history as we honor another great player who wore the blue and orange by inducting him into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame, Pat Lapantine. Now joining us for today’s ceremony, please welcome to the bench behind me your 2025 26 New York Islanders. Please join us now in welcoming many of the great players who are enshrined in the Islanders Hall of Fame. First, we’d like to recognize the Islanders Hall of Fame inductees who unfortunately are unable to be with us today. Brent Sutter, Bob Bourne, and Denny Potban. And we would like to remind you of those that we’ll never forget. Those who remain in our hearts forever. Bill Tory, Al Arbor, Mike Bossy, and Clark Gillies. Legends. Legends to help define this great franchise. Please join me now as we welcome to the ice members of the Islanders Hall of Fame, beginning with Ken Moral, Ed Westfall, Bob Nestrom, John Tanelli, Penny Yansen, Billy Smith, Patrick Flattley, Brian Traceier, and Butch Goring. Pat Fontaine was one of the most electrifying players to wear the Islander sweater. He was the third overall pick in the 1983 NHL draft. and at just 19 years of age represented team USA at the 1984 Olympics in Sievo where he led the team in scoring with five goals. The following week he joined the Islanders and in eight seasons he played 530 regular season games recording 566 points including 287 goals 35 of which were gamewinners and 279 assists. His postseason numbers with the Islanders are equally impressive. 36 points in 50 games, including one of the most iconic plays in Islanders and Stanley Cup playoff history. You know where you know where I’m going. Yes, the game-winning goal in the fourth overtime of game seven, the 1987 Patrick Division semifinals against the Washington Capitals. the goal in the game, otherwise known as the Easter epic. Today, we celebrate Pat and permanently etch him in bronze here at UBS Arena with this plaque. Before we bring out the man of honor, please welcome members of his family. Pat’s daughters Sarah and Brianna, Pat’s son, Daniel, and his wife Natasha, along with Pat’s grandchildren, Patrick and Olivia. Unfortunately, Pat’s wife, Mary Beth, is unable to join us for this afternoon’s ceremony. Mary Beth, we’re thinking of you. And now, please welcome Islanders Captain Anders Lee, who is presenting Vienna with a bouquet of flowers. Now, Islanders Nation, please welcome our 2025 Islanders Hall of Fame inductee, Pat Lafante. It is time now to welcome Butch Goring, who will present Patty with his Islanders Hall of Fame jacket, welcoming him into this Storied brotherhood. And now we welcome Patrick Flattley and Brian Tracee to present Pat with a painted portrait from famed sports artist Tony Caparelli. It highlights many of Pat’s great moments as an Islanders player. And now it’s time to hear from our inductee, our guest of honor, Pat Laontaine. Thank you. Thank you, Jigs. When I hear that voice, think of Eddie Westfall, Stan Fishler, and brings me back to the 80s and 90s. Those guys are a hat-tick of greatness. Thank you. My love of hockey started when I was five in St. Louis. We soon moved to Michigan in a lake called Williams Lake and a rink was built about a mile from us. I played youth hockey with my brother. My dad was our coach. My sister figure skated. My parents aren’t here right now, but I’m indebted to them for introducing me to this great sport and for all of their sacrifices. In 1983, I was drafted by the New York Islanders. Soon after, soon after Flats and I joined the 84 team for that run for five. I have to say, you never know where your life is going. We choose a game of hockey, but where we go is not our choice. I’m indebted to Mr. Bill Torey and the scouting staff for bringing me here to Long Island. As I stand here today, I have to say I didn’t realize the impact as a 19-year-old boy here 42 years later what that would mean, but I can feel it today. And it means so much to me. My good friend and agent Donnie Mian’s here. He represents his Newport Sports represents six players on the Islanders. And I want to thank him for all his advice, his friendship, especially during my playing days and after. And I know Newport has a special player here too named Mattie Schaefer. for an 18-year-old kid to text a 60-year-old man and congratulate him. Thank you, Maddie. Keep it going. A heartfelt thanks to the New York Islanders organization ownership group, Mr. Scott Melin, Mr. John Leiddki, John Collins. I’d like to thank them. I’d like to thank the management. I have to recognize the great Lou Lamarello. We want to World Cup in 1996 together. I want to rec mention Matthew Dar and phenomenal job. He was the one who called me to tell me I was being inducted. Kelly Cheeseman who just came on as president in the business side. Also Patrick Wah who I played against in 1982 83. To all the players, their families, the trainers, the entire staff and the organization. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for this amazing tribute to my family and myself that you bestowed upon us today. To these great Hall of Famers, I’m so honored to join you guys today. I was so lucky. I’ve had a chance to think about what it’s meant. Flats and I, we talked about it last week. How lucky were we to learn and play with what I believe and the greatest team in all of sports from 1979 to 84. And I’ll make sure we recognize those that are smiling down and that we miss dearly. Clarky, Poy, Hardy, Boss, Jimmy Pic, Ronnie Rosski, Murf, and of course the great architect, Mr. Bill Tory and the greatest coach ever. Coach, Al Arbor. We’ve had a residence here for over 41 years. We met a lot of family, a lot of friends. The Hoies, the ODay, my in-laws. Thank the Senate family. But I have to say all of you that are here that came or watching on TV, my family are so grateful to all of you and all of our time here at Long Island. It’s meant so much to us. Thank you to my friends at the NHL at NFP, UBS, and my buddies called the Low Tides, my brotherhood and beer league hockey and the Winter Club. I know they’re up there somewhere. Can’t thank you guys enough. You’ve meant so much to me. I really appreciate you. What makes this really meaningful and extra special to me today is the New York Islanders recognizing the charity companions and courage which is near and dear to my heart. our board and our fearless, courageous leader, Jimmy Johnson, our executive director, all here tonight. And everybody who has ever supported the New York Islanders and everybody who has supported the kids in children’s hospitals from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much. We have now impacted or touched over a million kids in children’s hospitals in the last 25 years. It’s extra special to be here with my family to have them here and be recognized in this moment because this is not just individual. It’s about family and your teammates. I’d like to recognize my daughters Sarah, Brianna, Daniel, Natasha, my daughter-in-law, Patrick and Olivia, my beautiful grandkids. We’re so proud of you, Mom and I, and I love you so much. Thank you for being here. We’re also here with a heavy heart. Brianna, our son-in-law, Randelle McCoy, Brianna’s husband, passed away Saturday. Randelle was going to be here in a wheelchair. He had ALS and he was going to have his Islander blanket. He was all excited. He lit up every room. He had the greatest smile and just beautiful soul. We’re going to miss you, Randelle. We love you dearly. And ALS, the acronym isn’t ALS to us. It’s truly a love story. We love you, Randelle. And his family is also here in the suite. Thanks to Mr. John Leiddki. The last year and a half and this last week has been challenging times for the La Fontaine family. I would say two words that have epitomized what we’ve had to go through is courage and team. because of some health issues. My beautiful wife Mary Beth could not be here today. But I’d like to dedicate I know this is an individual and it takes a team and takes a family, but I’d like to dedicate this honor to my best friend, my life partner, my inspiration, my beautiful wife Mary Beth. She’s a Huntington girl. I met her when I was 19. And Long Island is our home. Lastly, I’d like to thank the great fans here on Long Island, I have to say, playing in front of you with these great players, teammates, the Islanders, the trainers, the organization, were some of the greatest days in my life. I’m tr truly truly honored. And I thought one more thing I would love to do is say I have a saying in life because as we get older, score your goals when you’re young because when you get older, it’s all about the assists. Assists are what matter. And I’d like to have my little grandson Patrick come up here for a second because we share the same name. Ready? Let’s go. What do you want to say, Patrick? Let’s go, Islanders. Yeah. Thank you for making an old Islander feel at home. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for assisting on this special and cherished award. Thank you. Pat, Patty, Patty, there’s one more thing left to do today. Al’s Nation, please turn your attention to section 224 where longtime season ticket members Lewis Seda and his son Lou are standing by. Lewis and Lou, let’s see it. Heat. Heat. Pat, on behalf of Nation and the entire New York Islanders organization, we thank you for your leadership and all the great moments and memories that will continue to be passed down from generation to generation. Your legacy will live forever in the Islanders Hall of Fame and we thank you Nation. One more time for our 2025 inductee Pat Laante. Heat. Heat.

Pat LaFontaine is officially enshrined in the New York Islanders Hall of Fame.

Watch the full induction ceremony honoring one of the most iconic players in Islanders history. LaFontaine spent seven seasons with the Islanders, becoming one of the most dynamic scorers of his era and a cornerstone of the franchise during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Known for his skill, vision, and leadership, LaFontaine left a lasting impact on the organization and its fans.

This full ceremony includes speeches, highlights, and reflections on LaFontaine’s career, his contributions to the Islanders, and his legacy within the game of hockey.