Islanders winger Jonathan Drouin suspended one game for cross-checking
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A BIG CELEBRATION TO HONOR PITTSBURGH’S BIG THREE SIDNEY CROSBY, EVGENI MALKIN AND KRIS LETANG. THEY ARE MAINSTAYS HERE AT PPG PAINTS ARENA. BUT THERE’S ANOTHER NAME THAT IS A MAINSTAY HERE AT THE ARENA THAT IS CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE THIS WEEKEND. NO, I’M JUST GLAD TO GO TO WORK. THAT SMILE AND BLUE VEST HAVE BEEN A PART OF DAVE BLACKBURN’S DAILY UNIFORM FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE TO. I DON’T HAVE NO CONFLICT, SO MAYBE THAT’S WHY HE STILL WORKING AT NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD. THE LONGTIME USHER, WHO TURNS 90 ON SATURDAY, STILL WORKS EACH WEEK AT PPG PAINTS. THAT MAKES HIM THE ONLY LIVING PERSON THAT STARTED WHEN THE CIVIC ARENA OPENED BACK IN 1961. LOOKING FOR A JOB AND I DON’T KNOW WHO PUT ME TO THE CIVIC ARENA, BUT I WENT THERE AND THEY HIRED ME. AND WHILE MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THOSE 60 PLUS YEARS, LIKE THE ARENA ITSELF, SOMETHING KEEPS BRINGING HIM BACK. HE’LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU IT’S A COOL JOB. HE’S SEEN ICONS SIDNEY CROSBY, MARIO LEMIEUX, EVEN MICHAEL JACKSON IN CONCERT. BUT THE BIG NAMES AREN’T WHAT BRINGS HIM BACK EACH DAY. HE ENJOYS THE PEOPLE. AND WE ARE. MY BROTHER AND I ARE JUST SO HONORED AS TO HOW PPG HAS EMBRACED HIM. AND HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AND WHILE HE’S HAD SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES IN RECENT YEARS, HIS BOSSES AT THE RINK EMBRACE HIS LOVE FOR THE JOB. HE CAN’T DRIVE, SO HIS KIDS DROP HIM OFF AND PICK HIM UP. AND A COWORKER WHEELS HIM TO A SECTION BEFORE THE FANS ARRIVE. AND WHILE THE EXACT PLANS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ARE BEING KEPT A SECRET, HIS PLANS FOR RETIREMENT ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR. NEVER AS I’LL RETIRE WHEN THE MAN UPSTAIRS CALLS ME HOME. THAT’S IT. AND I’M GOING TO KEEP ON GOING. COVERING ALLEG
Islanders winger Jonathan Drouin suspended one game for cross-checking
Updated: 9:05 PM EDT Oct 10, 2025
New York Islanders winger Jonathan Drouin has been suspended one game for cross-checking Pittsburgh’s Connor Dewar in the head late in the teams’ game.The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the ban Friday after holding a disciplinary hearing to review the play.The 30-year-old Drouin was given a 5-minute major penalty and ejected with a game misconduct for the cross-check in a post-whistle scrum with 15 seconds left that sent Dewar to the ice on Thursday night.This is Drouin’s first career suspension in the league. He will miss the Islanders’ home opener Saturday night against Washington. He’ll forfeit $20,833 in salary, with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
NEW YORK (AP) —
New York Islanders winger Jonathan Drouin has been suspended one game for cross-checking Pittsburgh’s Connor Dewar in the head late in the teams’ game.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the ban Friday after holding a disciplinary hearing to review the play.
The 30-year-old Drouin was given a 5-minute major penalty and ejected with a game misconduct for the cross-check in a post-whistle scrum with 15 seconds left that sent Dewar to the ice on Thursday night.
This is Drouin’s first career suspension in the league. He will miss the Islanders’ home opener Saturday night against Washington. He’ll forfeit $20,833 in salary, with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.