The Skinny says Goodbye to 2015

2015 was a year for Islander fans to see goodbye.

Goodbye to three treasures in Islander history:  Al Arbour, JP Parise, and of course the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

It was also a year of great promise, featuring the 2nd playoff berth in three years and nearly an Art Ross Trophy for the Isles' best player in at least a generation, John Tavares.

It was a year of celebration, honoring the stars of the past and the players of today, all capped by three simple words: Yes! Yes! Yes!

It was also a year of bitter disappointment, capped off by an 11-shot effort in Game 7 in Washington, meaning that for the 22nd straight year the Isles would not get out of the first round (although it also meant that the last time they skated off Coliseum ice, they skated off winners!)

It was a year to look to the future, as the Islanders settled in to their new home ice in Brooklyn and have maintained one of the best home records in the NHL this fall.

Finally, it was a year for Islander fans to help me do one of the most satisfying things I ever did -- along with IslesBlog, we raised $33,107 for Make-A-Wish (R) Metro NY by selling 2,329 shirts based on the #ItHappenedattheColiseum theme -- enough to satisfy wishes for 4 Wish kids.

What will 2016 bring?  Stay tuned!

(I'll have 2015 By The Numbers as part of The Skinny following the Isles-Sabres game tonight)

Happy (and most importantly Healthy) New Year.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick