Islanders Remember and Appreciate Charles B. Wang

Johnny Boychuk remembers first meeting Charles Wang at Crescent Beach Club in Bayville, the site of the New York Islanders kick-off party in 2014. Boychuk had been acquired by the Islanders only a day or two prior, but he obviously knew who the team owner was when he approached him.
What impressed Boychuk, was that Wang knew him - and wanted to get to know him.
Wang made personal connections to his players and on a somber day of remembrance for the late Isles owner - who passed away Sunday at 74 - those were the first memories that rushed back.

"It's a sad day," Boychuk said. "He was always happy, always welcoming. When I first got traded he was more than welcoming to myself and my family. He always made you feel comfortable around the team. He did a lot of good things for our organization and he's going to the missed."

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Matt Martin met Wang at his first training camp a decade ago, but their relationship went beyond the rink, as Martin's fiancé, Sydney Esiason, is close with Wang's daughter Jasmine. Martin remembers Wang as a happy and generous man and as an owner who preferred to put people at ease rather than on edge.
"Generally you're nervous to be around the owner, give him handshakes, but he's the kind of guy who comes right over to you, asks how your summer is, gives you a hug," Martin said. "He's genuinely a good person, who cared for us as individuals and loved this team."
Generosity and philanthropy were common characteristics between Martin and Wang. So was their love of Long Island and Wang showed that love through community investments and charitable endeavors, including the Islanders Children's Foundation. That included fighting to keep the Islanders on Long Island amid years of uncertainty regarding the team's arena and speculation regarding relocation. The Lighthouse Project may have never come to fruition, but Martin said the team is still on Long Island because of Wang.
"He's the main reason why this team is still here," Martin said. "He fought hard for this organization to stay on Long Island… There was a lot of chatter about the team moving elsewhere and he always shut the noise down. The people of Long Island who love the Islanders owe him that at least."

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The Islanders will return to Nassau Coliseum for 20 games this season and will play in a new arena at Belmont Park in the coming years. That fulfills Wang's promise to keep the team on Long Island and Barclays Center is geographically on it.
"The arena at Belmont Park will be just one of his many legacies left to the team and to Long Island," Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky said in a statement Sunday. "His unique personality, his wonderful sense of humor and his extraordinary wisdom will be greatly missed."
Islanders captain Anders Lee agreed.
"Everything that he's done for the Islanders isn't going to be forgotten," Lee said. "He'll be in our thoughts. When we get to open up Belmont, he'll be there with us."
Wang will remain in the Islanders' memories long before and long after Belmont opens, as well. That's just the difference for an owner with a personal, people-first approach.
"He cared about us as people, not just players," Martin said. "He's someone I'll remember for a long time."