Herald Schools

Islanders inspire Lynbrook students

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Chants of “Islanders! Islanders!” were shouted by enthusiastic students who filed into the West End Elementary School gymnasium to hear from New York Islanders players Dennis Seidenberg, Alan Quine and Jaroslav Halak on Nov. 14.

The three NHL stars sat down at the front of the room and spoke to the students about the importance of staying active and working hard.

“Every day I want to get better,” said Seidenberg, a defenseman. “I want to think about something in the morning, something I want to work on, and I go to practice and try to work on what I thought about and try to do the best that I can do, and I think it’s the same for you. You guys should wake up, always do your best, do what you’re told at school, and if you do that, you’re going to have a nice day and everybody’s going to be happy.”

Seidenberg asked the audience why they thought it is important to work hard in school. First-grader Maeve Morrisey was chosen to respond to the question. “Because you learn more stuff,” she said.

The Islanders players also discussed the virtues of friendship and teamwork. “Your classmates will be some of your best friends growing up for life,” said Quine, a center, “and it’s important to work as a team, and I think everything gets achieved better when you can work as a team and help each other out.”

After the players shared their advice, the students had an opportunity to ask them questions about their lives. One student asked the most important advice the players received in their career, to which Halak, a goalie, said it is important to have fun with whatever you choose to do in life. Seidenberg tackled a question about what food makes him strong. “I don’t think you guys want to hear this,” he said, “but a lot of greens.”

At the end of the assembly, the players signed autographs and took pictures with the students. Christine Doran, a member of the Parent Teacher Association who organized the Islanders’ visit, said it was a great opportunity for the students to meet the players, including her son, Jack, who is in second grade.

“A lot of the kids are big hickey fans,” she said. “You know, my son plays hockey, a lot of his friends play hockey, whether its roller hockey or ice hockey. So I think they had fun.”