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Lehner Praises Islander Fans, ‘Often I Think of You’

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NHL netminder Robin Lehner and the New York Islanders faithful have a bond that can never be broken. After a few years of separation, the two sides get to see one another again as Lehner and the Vegas Golden Knights travel to Long Island to face the Islanders on Sunday.

On Saturday, Lehner took to social media ahead of his long-anticipated return to the island.

As the return nears, Islanders fans have taken to social media to express what Lehner’s time on the island has meant to them.

“He showed us how positive attitudes can save lives” Twitter user Rams18and2 shared. Willaim Chiarucci, a member of the Blue and Orange Army, tweeted, “He’s human, just like all of us.”

“I think we were lucky to get to watch him play,” said Jeff Melcer. “Robin Lehner is a special athlete and person and it’s rare to get to be part of their professional lives.”

In September of 2018, Lehner broke his silence on his struggles with addiction and bipolar disorder in a powerful article with The Athletic.

It was an emotional time for Lehner as he knew the stigma that came with mental health but decided that it was more important to share his story and get the truth out rather than keep the feelings bottled up inside.

What came out of his story is something that Lehner and the Islanders faithful will never forget.

The connection the Islanders fanbase had with Lehner could not be put into numbers. The games Lehner started were not just solely about the performance. It was about the power of hockey and the ability not just to fight obstacles but overcome them.

The Islanders fanbase made sure to let Lehner know how much it meant to them. The crowd would roar on each save and anytime he was a star of the game, the Lehner chants did not stop. It made his one season on the island a magical experience for everyone involved.

In that one season, Lehner was phenomenal. He posted a 2.13 goals-against average with a .930 save percentage. His play helped the Islanders make it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Come season’s end, Lehner’s play, along with the play of Thomas Greiss, saw the Islanders take home the Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals against. 

Not only that, but Lehner also took home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

Unfortunately, due to contract disputes, Lehner ended up leaving the Islanders that summer, signing with the Chicago Blackhawks. And although now he currently plays in Vegas, the Islanders support for “The Panda” is still as strong as it was when he was on the island.

Wherever Lehner has spoken about his time on the island, he always has mentioned that the Islanders saved his life. In February of 2020, Lehner decided to tattoo Long Island on his neck, to show his appreciation for what that place meant to him.

Lehner’s return will not just bring back the countless memories from 2018-19 but how the power of sports and the passion of sports can have the ability to change lives for the better.

 

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