He was a fan favorite right from the start. The skinny kid from Longueuil, QC, Canada, drafted in 2003 in the 6th round. He hardly spoke English when he played 76 games on the Bridgeport squad in 2004. He was barely 20 years old. He looked like he was 15. But he came away with 8 goals and 22 assist points that first year along with the hearts of the Sound Tigers Booster Club.

He shuttled back and forth from Bridgeport to Uniondale the next season, and the Long Island fans found him just as charming, just as engaging and just as warm.

In May 2008, Bruno Gervais was named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Nassau County Sports Commission. His contributions to charity work is exemplary both in the US and in his native Canada.

He is a source of pride to both his parents and this Islanders organization. He was so affable, Islanders TV even named an award after him, The Bruno Award.

Sadly, because of the cutbacks at ITV, there will be no Bruno Award this year, but Mr. Gervais is up for a much more prestigious award. Bruno Gervais was recently nominated for the Eleventh Annual NHL Foundation Award "designed to promote the charitable efforts of current NHL players, and to reward the player that best exemplifies a commitment to the community in which he lives."

Congratulations Bruno, one of the original "good guys."

Sidelined: Looks like our 30th place finish is all but guaranteed now that Mark Streit is listed as day to day with (two guesses) a groin strain. He did not make the trip to Washington.