SF/SM:
“All things considered, everything that you’ve been through throughout the entirety of your career, what was the most fun thing about being an Islander?”
PL:
“I remember when I first came to the team, the first 15 games and the whole playoff run and going to the Stanley Cup Finals… For an American kid to come in, and I first came to Long Island, and it was just everything and more. Every dream that you ever thought of coming true, the team played the first 15 games before the playoffs, and I was able to help contribute to the team. And then we went on this whole playoff run. And then the atmosphere around Long Island in Nassau Coliseum the atmosphere going first round, second round, third round, Stanley Cup Finals. I just remember at 19 years of age, this was every dream come true, and more. That whole experience. And then, then to be able to play with the kind of players. You know, Trots took me under his wing. He was kind of big brother, and showed me the ropes, and learning from him and Boss and Denis and Bobby Nystrom and Clarkie and the great players, Kenny Morrow, all the great players. And then having Al Arbour as a coach, as a young player, you know how lucky, I mean, he’s been the Vince Lombardi of hockey, and to be able to learn and play under him. And you know, Bill Torrey being the architect of the organization. I learned so much, and I was so fortunate. And then most importantly for me, I mean, hockey was my passion in my life, but it was a stepping stone that introduced me to my wife, Mary Beth, who was a Huntington girl at the time, I was 19, she was 18, and when we went on a blind date, and I often say this, the hockey assist Lorne Henning had was his greatest assist. He passed it to Tonelli. Lorne Henning and his wife insisted on introducing me to my wife on a blind date. He put his arm around me before the Stanley Cup Finals in ‘84 and said, ‘Hey, Kathy, and I think you and the girl next door would be a great couple.’ And I said, not the girl next door thing. He says, ‘no, she actually lives next door.’ And we laughed, I said, Lord, we’re going to Stanley Cup Finals. I got to focus on hockey and in which I did. And then a week afterwards, I called him up, and we went on a blind date, and she walked in, I said, I think I’m going to marry this girl. And sure enough, three years later, we were married, and right after the Easter Epic game… I learned a lot in 84-85, 85-86, and then 86-87 a lot of what I learned, I think my was kind of a stepping stone to the rest of my career, but, yeah, looking back, it’s, it’s shaped my life, has shaped who I am, this sport, coming to Long Island, and then having our three children. We have two grandchildren now and so when I look back, it’s a gratitude and appreciation to know that so much of the foundation of where we are today started with the New York Islanders.”