Connect with us

Arena News

Rick Pitino Attends Islanders Win Over Bruins, His First at UBS Arena

Published

on

Rick Pitino

2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee and current Iona Men’s Basketball Rick Pitino knows how to win. He was the first head coach to win two NCAA National Championships with two different schools and only one of two coaches to take three different schools to the Final Four.

Usually, he’s behind the bench for wins.

But on Thursday night, he was in the seats as he watched the New York Islanders defeat the Boston Bruins 4-1 at UBS Arena in Belmont Park.

It was Rick Pitino’s first game at the new home of the New York Islanders as he looked to bring them some luck as they entered the contest on a three-game skid.

And he did just that, as he got to witness one of the Islanders best performances in quite some time.

Did you know that Rick Pitino is a New York Islanders season ticket holder?

Now you do.

In November of 2020, Pitino was convinced by longtime friend and New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello to purchase season tickets for UBS Arena. Pitino, somewhat of a hockey fan, signed a three-year season-ticket deal.

“I feel that Lou Lamoriello will bring a Stanley Cup champion to the Islanders, and I bought two season tickets.”

Lamoriello and Pitino have known one another since 1985, as Lamoriello was the athletic director at Providence College and the man responsible for hiring Pitino to be the men’s basketball coach.

Pitino told the story of how his tickets came to be to Jamie Stuart of News 12 LI:

Whether it has been longtime Islander fans like Ralph Macchio, newer fan over the last few seasons like former NFL player Damien Woody, and even newer fans like Rick Pitino, the support for New York Islanders hockey continues to grow.

Rick Pitino may not be the biggest hockey fan, but he’s invested at least for another two seasons following this one, and he will try to bring that Iona Gael luck to each game he intends in the future.

GET NYIHN IN YOUR INBOX!

Enter your email address to get all of our articles delivered directly to your inbox.

NYI Team & Cap Info