Christmas time on Long Island, and what is Islander Country focused on?  What the rest of the hockey universe is focused on:  What to do with Chris Simon.  It seems the Islanders organization can only make it to the front cover of NHL.com when there is a “sensational” story such as this one.  It seems to happen every year.   Some tragic turn of events will befall the Islanders and that will be all that is focused on for months.

However, this time, what is being overshadowed is something that is more in keeping with the spirit of the season.  Should anyone like to hear about it, please read on because sadly, I’m sure you missed it on the Islanders website and I believe I only saw it mentioned in Logan’s articles, not any of the other outlets that cover the comings and goings of our team.  (And Thank You Greg!)

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, Mike Bossy and HBO’s own Kevin Connolly are taking 250 kids shopping at a Modell’s in Nassau County.  If you don’t think that’s newsworthy, you haven’t tried to take more than three kids shopping anywhere.  Think of it: 250 kids.  That’s almost 9 Long Island grade school classes.  NINE! These are fourth, fifth and sixth graders sponsored by the United Way who each are going to have $200 to spend as they wish.  Tell me that don’t sound like a great Christmas!

Now the best part of this is not just the warm fuzzy feeling you get from thinking of 250 less-fortunate kids getting a wish come true.  For the adults, the best part is the amount of cooperation that the Islanders’ Business Club has received from their sponsors and participants.  This brand-new endeavor raised over $60,000 towards this event.  Add that to the other thousands of charity dollars the Islanders organization has contributed since the season started and you can’t help but be smiling from ear to ear.  This is YOUR hockey team working for YOUR community.  This is not a faceless entity.  These are local businesses showing their support helping to keep this team on Long Island.

I think it’s time to do a little giving ourselves.  Let’s support those who support them.  Show them that they are wise to invest in the Islanders and their charitable endeavors. Let’s take a look at the list of companies the Islanders Business Club has put together for this:  Dunkin Donuts, Suffolk Transportation Services, North Shore Motor Group, Parts Authority, Tuscan Dairy, KDJ Advertising, Commerce Bank, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Winters Bros., and Alure Home Improvement.  Keep these names in mind.  Support them when you can and let them know their commitment to the Islanders brought you to them.

Tonight the face of the franchise may be that of a woeful Chris Simon leaving the team to get help.  Tomorrow it will be 250 smiling kids on a wild shopping spree, and the Islanders will be Santa Claus.   But I highly doubt that picture will end up on TSN.  It’s a shame isn’t it?