Islanders Pay Tribute To Torrey, Dedicate Rink In His Name

There really aren't many honors left to bestow on Bill Torrey.
He's etched into the Stanley Cup (four times), enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame and has a pair of banners recognizing his accomplishments, one hanging in the rafters of Nassau Coliseum and another in South Florida.

Add his memberships to the Islanders Hall of Fame and the Florida Panthers Den of Honor and the hockey world seems to be running out of places to pay tribute to Torrey. On Friday, the Islanders found a fitting place to lend his name - a hockey rink - officially dedicating the Bill Torrey Rink at Northwell Health Ice Center.
"It's rather surreal and wonderful at the same time," said Rich Torrey, one of Torrey's four sons, at Friday's dedication. "To know that this is going to be named after him and be here for a long time, it's fantastic."

Friday night was the first of two celebrations of Torrey, a semi-private event before Bill Torrey Appreciation Night at the Coliseum on Saturday to commemorate the legendary GM who passed away in May. More than 20 Islanders alumni, plus former scouts and staffers came from as far as Sweden to celebrate "The Architect" alongside his four sons Will, Rich, Pete and Artie. Bow ties were the accessory of choice.
The rink itself had that familiar hockey chill, but the lobby was filled with warmth, the type cooked up by fond memories, good spirits and clinking glasses. Jiggs McDonald, who flew up from Fort Myers, FL, to emcee the event, walked the microphone to anyone who wanted to share a story or their feelings towards the lifelong hockey man.
There were nearly an hour's worth of speakers. Butch Goring told the story about how their Stanley Cup rings were routinely given out in January, jarring the team loose during the mid-season doldrums. Torrey, after all, was a masterful motivator.
Pat Flatley recalled negotiating contracts one-on-one at the Golden Dolphin diner in Huntington and how Torrey had always been fair with him.

FISCHLER: APPRECIATING BILL TORREY
Dave Lewis was on hand, as his reverence for Torrey outweighed whatever feelings he may have had about being traded in 1980 and therefore missing out on the Isles dynasty. He jokingly told the dynasty alumni "you're welcome" for being the cost of the final puzzle piece.
Pat LaFontaine spoke about Torrey's high character, as did Bert Marshall, who knew he was going to be an Islander when he saw Torrey in the stands at a Rangers practice. Everyone spoke about how Bill was only a phone call away when they needed advice.
When the mic inevitably wound up in Clark Gillies' hands, he joked about how Torrey told him his time with the Isles was over.
"Clarkie, we're going in a different direction," Gillies said before adding the dramatic pause. "And you're not going with us."
A pause. Then laughter. Then about five more minutes of stories from Gillies including their time golfing together and how Torrey wanted him to win every award except the Lady Byng. He ended on a heartfelt note, looking up at a picture of Torrey and letting him know that he missed him.

Current Islanders General Manager Lou Lamoriello had his own history with Torrey. As Athletic Director at Providence College, Lamoriello used to recommend college players to the Isles GM. When Lamoriello took over the New Jersey Devils GM, he sat next to Torrey at the annual GM meetings, talking hockey.
Lamoriello has had a historic career in his own right, winning three Stanley Cups and earning a Hall of Fame induction himself. So take it from him when he says there was no one better than Torrey, citing the four-straight Cups and the NHL record 19 straight playoff series wins.
"In life there are three types of people," Lamoriello said. "There are people that we like, but don't respect. There are people that we respect, but we don't like. Then there are people that we both like and respect. That's Bill Torrey."
Torrey's children were especially touched by the tales of their father and turnout from people who loved him, including Al Arbour's family. It's almost too fitting that the other rink at Northwell is named after Arbour, Torrey's championship partner.
"It's perfect, it actually is if they were brothers," Rich Torrey said. "Together they were here throughout the entire dynasty years. It's very fitting. It's wonderful. As close as we are to the Arbour family it makes it even more special."

Torrey passed away in May and since then his four sons have held personal memorials, as well as gatherings at the Meadow Brook Club and a Bill Torrey night in Florida. Saturday figures to be an emotional, though celebratory, return to the old barn. It's the place where they grew up and where their father made his legacy.
"It's going to be very emotional," Pete Torrey said. "This is where he really cut his teeth and where everything really happened for him. Coming back here is definitely like coming home."
The four Torrey boys looked out over the dedicated arena, outfitted with a replica Torrey banner hanging on the wall, as well as a mural dedicated to their dad. Rich Torrey even spotted his son in one of the pictures and it brought back more memories of their family's time and ties to Long Island. He affectionately refers to growing up around the Isles as being in Camelot.
As the ceremony wound down, the Torrey family offered a gesture and gift of their own. As a thank you for the rink, the Torrey boys presented Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky with one of their father's famed bow ties. The plan is for it to be displayed in the Islanders offices, another tribute for the man who has many.
"We look at this as the punctuation of his career," Pete Torrey said. "We know the honors are over and that's great and we appreciate all of that. The memories really begin."