Howie Rose’s run as a New York voice has reached a new chapter, and the Islanders made sure to mark the moment Saturday night at UBS Arena.
Two weeks after he called the final Mets game of his broadcasting career, Rose was back in an arena setting, this time being honored for his 21 years as the Islanders’ TV play-by-play man during the club’s home opener. He said the last stretch has been consumed by a move, with he and his wife set to leave their New York apartment Monday for their permanent home in Florida.
“We've just been renting an apartment the last couple of years, but when we sold our previous home, we had a lot of stuff that we had to kind of kick down the road because we were under some time constraints,’’ Rose said Saturday night at UBS Arena, where the Islanders recognized him for his 21 years as their TV play-by-play man. “So we've been going over all kinds of stuff that, you know, some of it you keep, some of it you throw out, some of it you donate. And believe me, it's a whirlwind.”
Rose said retirement will include plenty of golf - and a few alligators getting involved, at least by way of golf balls.
For Rangers fans, Rose will always be tied to the unforgettable radio call of Stephane Matteau’s double-overtime goal against the Devils in Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference final. But his Islanders work stretched across a generation, after he took over from the legendary Jiggs McDonald.
That run also brought him back around people who knew him long before he became one of the region’s most recognizable voices. Former broadcast partner Butch Goring recalled Rose’s early days as a college reporter, already moving around the Islanders locker room with a tape recorder.
“I always think back and say, you know, he was practicing with his dream of being in the broadcast end of sports,’’ Westfall said. “And it certainly paid off.”
Westfall worked with Rose for the first three seasons of his Islanders tenure, from 1995 until Westfall retired in 1998. Rose later teamed with Joe Micheletti, Billy Jaffe and Goring, spending 2010 through 2016 alongside Goring before leaving the job to focus full time on baseball.
Goring said Rose made the transition easy.
“I came in absolutely cold,’’ Goring recalled of his time with Rose. “I had no experience, no training, no exhibition games, and Howie was an absolute gem.
I mean, he told me, ‘Butch, just have fun. Don't worry about it.
You know the game.’ And he said, ‘If you make a mistake, just keep going.
Don't worry about it.’ And we had so much fun together.
“For me, he was the perfect guy, because I needed help, and he would lead me into the right thing all the time. And I just couldn't have been happier, and I couldn't have been more thankful to have Howie Rose work with me.’’
Among the current Islanders, Casey Cizikas, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield are the only players who were on the roster while Rose was calling games. Mayfield was a healthy scratch Saturday, but the others were in the lineup.
Cal Clutterbuck, now doing broadcast work for the team, also crossed paths with Rose as a player, though he said they didn’t really have much of a relationship then. These days, as someone working on the other side of the mic, Clutterbuck has a deeper appreciation for what Rose and other veteran announcers do in real time.
“I always find it amazing how Brendan [ Burke, who took over from Rose as the Isles’ play-by-play man ] and these guys can recall information while they're in the process of calling out names in real time,’’ Clutterbuck said. “It's really an amazing skill. So I have appreciation for a lot of those guys, but especially guys in the New York Metro area who've been doing it for so long.’’
In Other News...
Islanders Bring Back A Beloved Home Opener Moment Fans Will Remember
The Islanders are set to open their home schedule with a familiar and heartwarming face in the spotlight. Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old World War II veteran and decorated Army staff sergeant, will return to UBS Arena to perform the national anthem before the game against the Devils, bringing back the kind of pregame moment that tends to linger with a crowd long after the puck drops.
Critelli already left a mark on Islanders fans once, when he played the anthem on his saxophone before a game last December and drew a memorable reaction inside the building. He still practices the instrument every day, and this latest appearance gives the home opener a personal touch that fits the kind of connection the Islanders have tried to build with their fans at Nassau Countys successor in Elmont. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders New-Look Lineup Just Delivered A Much-Needed Boost
The Islanders got the kind of response they were looking for in their home opener, rolling past the Devils 6-0 and giving a new-look lineup an immediate lift. Simon Holmstrom, Brayden Schenn, Bo Horvat, Victor Eklund, Ondrej Palat and Casey Cizikas all found the net, a balanced scoring outburst that suggested there may be more depth here than the early chatter around the roster change. It was the sort of start that can settle a building quickly and give a team some much-needed confidence.
Ilya Sorokin made sure the result never got away from New York, turning away New Jersey chances while the Islanders kept adding to the lead. The Devils had looks on the power play, but nothing they tried broke through, and the night ended with the kind of all-around performance the Islanders have been searching for as they try to make this reshaped group feel a little more settled. There was also a milestone baked into the win that fit the mood perfectly, even if it almost got lost in the scoring parade. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Season Could Hinge On Finally Fixing One Home Problem
Home ice was supposed to be a strength for the Islanders, but last season it too often looked like another problem area for a team that fell short of the playoffs. Captain Bo Horvat and coach Pete DeBoer have both pointed to improving the atmosphere and the offense at UBS Arena as priorities, with the new staff looking to reset a team that never quite built enough momentum in its own building.
A more threatening attack at home could be part of that fix, especially with Mathew Barzal expected to be back in the mix to help generate more chances. The Islanders know they need more than just a better feel in their own rink, though, and the real question is whether the changes around the roster and behind the bench can finally turn those home dates into a real advantage again. [Read more 🡒]