BROOKLYN -- The New York Islanders enjoyed a unique start to their 2013 training camp, as they boarded a Long Island Rail Road train from Garden City. Their final destination Thursday morning was the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the building scheduled to become their home in 2015. It will host the team's preseason game on Sept. 21 against the New Jersey Devils, the first-ever NHL game played in Brooklyn.
The players and coaches received a particularly warm greeting upon their arrival.
"First and foremost, welcome to your new home. We're thrilled to have all of you with us today," Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark told the team. "Congratulations to you on a great last season. I'm sure you're going to replicate that effort this season."
The preseason game has sold more than 10,000 tickets and is expected to kickstart a season in which the Islanders hope to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last season's team qualified for the postseason for the first time in six years. Coming off an exciting first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the group present at Barclays Center on Thursday has heightened expectations for the Islanders once they come to Brooklyn.
"We will raise many Stanley Cups right here. You're a great team. Let's get it done," said developer Bruce Ratner, who spearheaded the Atlantic Yards project that houses Barclays Center and made a point to laud recently named team captain John Tavares.
"We've got a great captain. We've got a great team," he said. "I want to thank you for all your good work. I want you to lead us to victory this year."
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.