Islanders recall pond hockey game set up by Anders Lee in Minnesota last season
The Islanders spent an off day at Anders Lee’s house in Minnesota and laced up the skates on the pond. Credit: New York Islanders/Tyler Brosious
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jean-Gabriel Pageau immediately remembered one of last season’s highlights when he woke up in Minnesota.
More than nine months have passed since Anders Lee opened his Edina home to the Islanders’ players, coaches and staff, complete with a 17-on-17 pond hockey game, and much has changed, most noticeably Lee now playing for the Utah Mammoth after leaving via free agency.
But before Thursday night’s game against the Wild at Grand Casino Arena, it was easy to recall the fun times with their former captain and to acknowledge Lee’s absence in their room.
“Only good memories,” Pageau told Newsday. “That’s the first thing I thought when I came back and I woke up [Wednesday] morning, how good of a day we had there in Minny. It brings back some good memories, not only of him but his family and how welcoming they’ve always been to every player. The trainers were there, everyone was there, so it was a fun day.”
Lee’s family hosted the Islanders’ traveling group for a team party on Jan. 11 in the midst of a 16-day road trip. Many of the players had their old junior hockey uniforms shipped to wear while skating on the pond.
“That was a cool thing we got to do in the middle of the season, play pond hockey,” Kyle MacLean told Newsday. “I remember everybody just saying they felt like a kid again out there. You’re just having fun, enjoying the game. It’s very pure and a great moment for everybody. Very memorable.
“It was great that Leesie set that up for us. Just the pond hockey itself. When you get a chance to do that at this level, at this age, it’s special.”
“There’s a couple of days a year where the schedule just allows us to really get some time away and have fun with each other,” defenseman Scott Mayfield told Newsday. “I think that’s why when we talk about the Bubble, how we embraced and we liked being there, it just shows the closeness of this group.”
Mayfield was referring to the playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton for the 2020 playoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Islanders were isolated from family and friends for about six weeks but advanced to the NHL semifinals.
Lee, 36, signed a three-year, $16.2 million deal with Utah on July 1 after 14 seasons on Long Island and eight as the captain; the Islanders were not willing to give him that length of term.
New captain Bo Horvat entered Thursday leading the Islanders with six goals and 13 points and is equally respected by his teammates.
But Lee, who had three goals and three assists in 13 games with Utah entering Thursday, is missed.
“I think it’s a big void,” MacLean said. “Anybody who’s here for so long and also the captain and also a great guy in the locker room. He was really important to this team off ice and in the locker room. It stinks to see a friend and a great guy go. It’s unfortunately part of it.”
“I still talk with Anders,” Pageau said. “I just chatted him up. It’s hard to keep up during the season. When you lose a friend, you always feel a little difference.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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