If you're new to Lighthouse Hockey, let me say: Welcome! Now let's drop the puck...

This is a blog and user forum about the New York Islanders [Captain Obvious reporting for duty!] and hockey in general. Obviously, there will be new posts/articles each day, which you are encouraged to discuss in comments -- you know, the usual drill.

FanPosts & FanShots: You Can Steer the Blog

But more importantly, you are invited to bring up your own Islanders-related topics (via FanPosts) and post your own links/images/videos (via FanShots) for all members to discuss. Those are on the right-hand column. The really good ones, or the ones that prompt comments, or the ones that makes us laugh (in a good way), can be "promoted" to the main thread of the front page just like regular blog posts, creating higher visibility for your contributions.

Don't think it has to stay in the present -- you can discuss the past, the future, or the make-believe world where you are GM of the Islanders. Even share a memory or experience from a recent or favorite game.

That's the beauty of SBN: You are invited to participate, guide the conversation, invite your friends, be part of a community. (SBN, or Sports Blog Nation, is the blog technology network that hosts Lighthouse Hockey and 200 other team-focused blogs, from all major sports, all accessible in the menus in the left-hand margin).

One User ID for Every SBN team blog

With your SBN or Yahoo/Open ID account, you can leave comments here and at other SBN blogs, creating a comment history so that you and/or others can learn more about one another's hockey interests.

The Blogroll, and Using SBN's Other Hockey Sites

I encourage you to check out the blogroll on the left margin of the main page -- if you're a blogsphere vet, it's the usual suspects, but you might find a gem. Also of note: there are 29 great hockey blogs that aren't listed there. That's because all of the SBN hockey blogs are accessible through the "HOCKEY" tab in the "More SBN Blogs" box above the blogroll. If you sign on to be a "member" of those blogs -- even if you want to lurk, but not comment -- they'll appear in the drop-down menu under your name.

Bonus: that drop-down will tell you how many news stories and FanPosts each of those other sites have posted since the last time you checked in.

Sticking Around and Joining the Fun

If you're an Islanders fan, I encourage you to stick around and visit during games for SBN's unique game threads -- instantly updating (no need to click "refresh") comment forums where you can leave thoughts about the game and reply to others.

The only "rules" at this point are to treat each other with respect, keep politics out of the discussion, and feel free to disagree for the sake of discussion. Also: recognize we are here to have fun. (Spamming or trolling is obviously forbidden.)

So please, join in and have some fun. Upload an avatar and give voice to your identity. It's been a tough few years for the Islanders, but the future should only get better. The sooner you join in, the greater hand you'll have in guiding this playhouse as the team improves and the community attracts more active members.

Any questions? Our email addresses are linked next to our names at the bottom of every page.

For a bit more about how this Islanders outpost started, here's the first intro post from October 2008.

Bunch of Legalese: These guidelines are intended to help you understand the policies, procedures, and processes generally used at Lighthouse Hockey. While you are using Lighthouse Hockey, which is a part of SB Nation, you are also subject to the SB Nation Terms of Use. Also, please take note of the SB Nation Privacy Policy, to which this site subscribes. Both of the above links are also available at the bottom of Lighthouse Hockey's front page.