Today’s game against the Bruins sucked. Big time. Let’s forget about it for now.
Before the game, the Islanders hosted their second number retirement of the week and once again, it was a highly entertaining show of team pride that honored one of the franchise’s greatest legends.
Butch Goring’s case for number retirement is pretty airtight, given the 40-something years he’s given to the Islanders in various capacities. And given his talents as a broadcaster and all around hockey raconteur, it should be no surprise that Butchie took over the mic to thank (or in some cases, gently roast) his former teammates and his family during his special day.
If you missed the ceremony or just want to enjoy it again, here’s the full video:
Like his old teammate John Tonelli did in his ceremony last week, Butch shouted out the current Islanders and its passionate fanbase for keeping the team’s tradition alive. He also introduced his family, including his 93-year-old mom, and thanked the team’s three main broadcasters - Howie Rose, Brendan Burke and Jiggs McDonald, who also emceed again - for helping him during his third career in broadcasting.
But the best part was Butch taking the mic and talking about his fellow Islanders retired numberees (I just made that up), like he was Dean Martin at a celebrity roast. Nothing got too crazy (unless you count Butch thanking Clark Gillies for saving his ass a few times over the years), but it was a blast watching Butch hold court and giving everybody a good, old fashioned Islanders family fun night. He also mentioned Islanders players who weren’t at the Coliseum today and compared them to today’s Islanders with similar talents, such as agitators Duane Sutter and Cal Clutterbuck, and speedsters Bob Bourne and “Mart” Barzal.
Even after the ceremony, Butch’s colleagues at MSG Network had a good time with it. Shannon Hogan talked with Bill Smith, Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy, who was able to make it down before heading back to Montreal for work. Later, AJ Mleczko, who did color for the game on Butch’s day off, got to wear his iconic helmet, “straight from his own closet.”
Congrats again to Butchie and his family on the honor, and to the Islanders for knocking another number retirement out of the park. Shame the game was such a letdown.