Elite Sports New York counts down the top five moments of New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo’s career.
The hubbub of a profuse number of devotees from the confines of the Ol’ Barn on Hempstead Turnpike still rings in my head ’till this day: “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”The occasion was a Kyle Okposo overtime winner against the Chicago Blackhawks, which came just a handful of days following the news of Okie’s Olympic snub.
At that juncture in time, the Isles’ winger was tied for ninth in the league in points with 42, and was ranked second among American-born skaters in that category.
That occurred in January 2014, astonishingly more than two full seasons ago. Okposo, now 28, is poised to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and Isles general manager Garth Snow hasn’t tried to conceal the news that the team will be bidding him farewell.
It’s mind-boggling to think that this will be our farewell, too.
There are so many great moments from his tenure as an Isle — too many to mention, in fact.
But using the interwebs and a modern invention called YouTube, we’ll attempt to take a trip down memory lane and remember some of Okie’s greatest moments in blue and orange.
5. First Goal
This is how it all started. New York Islanders goal numero uno, and what a goal it was.
Just three days after making his NHL debut on March 18, 2008, he netted the game-winning goal on the powerplay against Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.
His route to the big leagues was mired in controversy, though. Unbeknownst to many, Okie left the University of Minnesota after the 2007-08 season, despite protests from school officials that the Isles put him “in a very difficult situation,” and that “we… will continue to work to ensure that our players reach their potential on the ice and in the classroom.”
The school was frustrated that the forward wasn’t given a chance to receive a degree, to which Snow responded that “Quite frankly, we weren’t happy with the program. They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that.”
4. Shootout Goal
As his career progressed, Okposo rapidly became more effective at the skills competition.
Okie showcased his filthy talent with an unreal toe drag past Michal Neuvirth of the Philadelphia Flyers during a late-December contest this past season.
He improved to 4-for-5 on the season in the event, and did so while looking at ease.
His shootout prowess will be missed, especially if reports that Frans Nielsen will test the open market are true.
3. ???
In the final season at the Ol’ Barn on Hempstead Turnpike, Okie lit the lamp four times in one contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the first season at the New Barn on Atlantic Avenue, Okie registered his second career hat trick in an 8-1 rout of the Edmonton Oilers.
Both performances were critical momentum boosters to team’s in dire need of one.
His sniping skills were on full display as he raised the opposition’s save percentage in both.
2. Niskanen Brawl
The Isles’ never-ending rebuild finally came to a close when the team took the heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins to game six of the 2014 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, but it wasn’t until Okie socked Niskanen in the face that the team was finally relevant again.
During a second period brawl between Okposo and Matt Niskanen, Okposo connected on a shot to the cheek that led to an ample amount of blood.
The landed punch put the Isles on the map again.
1. USA! USA! USA!
For the past eight seasons, Okposo has been New York Islanders hockey.
In 2014, he should have been United States hockey.
Okie was a leading candidate to make the American Olympic squad, but ultimately wasn’t chosen to partake in the event, despite being among the league’s leaders in many of the scoring categories.
He took it in stride, though, notching the game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks just a handful of days after the snubbing occured.
The ensuing “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” chant was a wondrous scene.