Author Archive for HyeDray
A graphic designer who loves the game....and knows that age has slowed him down — but the passion is there. Islanders fan since the 70s, Dad, Husband and Coach of the Flying Tiger's Email: andre@filamentdesigns.net Twitter: http://twitter.com/FilamentDesigns
Backchecking: Half The Job – An Open Letter to Larry Brooks
The following is a letter I sent to Larry Brooks of the New York Post after his article critical of the Islanders — calling them “irrelevant” was published. I wrote the note, not so much to defend Charles Wang and Garth Snow. But I felt strongly enough that while the franchise is continuing to struggle, [...]
Backchecking: Is this the end?
The end for the Islanders 2011-12 season is more or less at hand. We can discuss that at another time — but the bigger end might be just beginning. To suggest we should be concerned is an understatement. Conversations I have had. The play of the team. The lack on anything coming directly from [...]
Backchecking: Reality for the Islanders
Though not mathematically eliminated, last night crushing 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils has the Islanders all but eliminated from the post season. While the team may have been playing important games in February and March — and that is certainly improvement over past years — it is not enough to challenge for the [...]
Backchecking: 6 Points for the New York Islanders
I have not had the opportunity to write as much as I would have liked this season on my thoughts for the New York Islanders. With the season entering the final quarter, the trade deadline on Monday, and the Islanders fighting for their playoff lives, there are some comments Id thought to share with the [...]
Backchecking: What to Expect: Part 3 — Defense
I hope we all had a great holiday break the last week. Although, I suppose the 3 games that made up the Christmas break for the Islanders was anything but great. Battling back on the road and getting a few wins put the Islanders within hailing distance of a run at the pack. But with [...]
Backchecking: What To Expect: Part 2 — Goalies
It was easy to keep a little quite over the past several weeks. My work dictated that. But the play of the Islanders from Thanksgiving weekend through the early part of December improved greatly, and the team put some wins together — climbing out of the NHL basement, and giving us fans a small glimmer [...]
Backchecking: What To Expect: Part 1 — Coaching
I have been quiet. I have been waiting. I have been patient. But the dysfunction of the franchise has once again caught up with me, and I am going to take a guess that I am not alone in my dread. What began 2 months ago as hope that this season would afford the Islanders [...]
Backchecking: 10 Games In — All Is Not Well In Uniondale…
I am one to be reasonable when I approach the Islanders level of play. Usually it is after the bitter taste of another loss is expunged from my palette. I was at last night’s game against the Jets, the game before that against the Sharks, and the home opener. Other then the home opener, it [...]
Backchecking: Six Games In — Is This What You Expected?
It is 6 games into the 2011-12 NHL season and our Islanders are 3-3. Average. a .500 hockey team. Is this what you thought would be the team at this juncture? Did you feel we were better then this, or worse? Or is this about where the Islander should be at this point? Im trying [...]
Backchecking: The Fun Begins
It has been a painful summer in some ways for Islander fans. Just as the boys in blue and orange were gelling together, giving us glimpses of what could be, the season ended. And while 2010-11 had a stretch of games that led the New York Islanders into the abyss of the NHL standings, they [...]
Backchecking: Shanahan’s “Penalty Box” Chats
While I may be the Islander blogger for H.I., seeing the latest “innovation” for the NHL is a blessing, and if followed through, a gift to hockey fans around the world. There have been a few incidents during the new preseason that unfortunately warranted Brendan Shanahan, the new NHL Disciplinarian to hand out a pair [...]
Backchecking: The Vision of the Blind
For the nearly 40 years of the existence of the New York Islanders — basically, all of my life — the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has been obsolete, or it seems. A privately financed “Lighthouse” development was stalled by the politics of “no,” small minded lack-of-vision thinking and killed at the Town level. A publicly [...]
Backchecking: The Kids Are Alright – Update – Tavares Signed LONG TERM
Another season of hockey is upon us on Long Island and throughout the NHL. My hope is I get to continue to say that well beyond 2015 for the New York Islanders, but that is for a different day. Today, dawn is about to break on the New York Islanders training camp and regular season. [...]
Backchecking: UPDATED – Bueller…Bueller…Bueller….
See the bottom for the UPDATE…. Can someone tell me what this is? Anyone….. Anyone….. It’s Plan C. Plan C for the Islanders of New York? Anyone…… There is blame to go around — and I will get to it — all of it in all directions. Not a single person will be left [...]
Backchecking: UPDATE — Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up
UPDATE: Its 4:40pm and you might be just trying to leave the office to head home. DONT FORGET TO VOTE. I know its raining, and there has been hail the size of golf balls. I KNOW and I am aware it sucks. When Kyle Okposo gets knocked into the boards, he gets up, and get [...]
Backchecking: Arena development deal for Isles Coming into More Focus
It’s a good thing that someone with half a brain is working in the County of Nassau. A brief quote from the article here… Comptroller George Maragos reviewed the proposed deal reached between County Executive Edward Mangano and Islanders owner Charles Wang to build another arena in Uniondale and said the agreement is still [...]
Backchecking: Don’t Take Your Opponent Lightly
As someone who spent time in politics — it should be communicated to Charles Wang and the power brokers for the arena deal — if they think they can “sit on the sidelines” in a similar way that they did with the Lighthouse, they are going to lose big on August 1. If they believe [...]
Backchecking: Radek Martinek — Long Island Legend?
First and foremost — I wish Radek Martinek the best of luck. He is a solid player and brought many positives to the game. He played in the Islanders system for years, on some difficult teams, and gave it his all every shift. If on the ice — the Jackets are getting a good player. [...]
Backchecking: And….You Were Expecting…What?
For more Islander fans, yesterday was just another disappointment. Just another let down in a long line of let downs over many seasons. Perhaps I am in the minority, but yesterday was vintage Garth Snow, and vintage New York Islanders and right now — that is the way it should be. Garth Snow and the [...]
Backchecking: 10 Years and $40 Million Later….
Just a day after being acquired from the Islanders, Christian Ehrhoff signs with the Buffalo Sabers. Is Christian Ehrhoff worth a 10 year commitment to a hockey team like the Islanders? I dare say not. And as I had mentioned yesterday after being disappointed that the Islanders could not get the top tier defender under [...]
