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As a Flyer fan I'm quite familiar with the well known Lindros vs Clark feud that ended with the return of Lindros in the Winter Classic. For years the Flyers organization chose to erase highlights of Lindros's career while Flyer fans all over the world never forgot. I'm much less familiar with the Pat Lafontaine vs Wang feud that didn't take place while LaFontaine played for the Islanders. Instead, owner Charles Wang is still bitter over LaFontaine's 40-day run as his unpaid senior advisor. Lafontaine resigned in July of 2006 after Wang fired the team's GM Neil Smith and handed the job to Garth Snow. LaFontaine disagreed with the decision and quit out of loyalty to Smith. He said "I believe you treat people fairly, and stand up for what you believe in." Since then Lafontaine, one of the greatest American hockey players ever, has been erased from the Islanders memories. The 2011-2012 season is the 40th anniversary of the Islanders organization and frankly I'm shocked, not a mention of Pat LaFontaine. Season-ticket holders were given 42 keepsake tickets featuring a notable Islander player, coach, or executive however non featured LaFontaine. LaFontaine, is arguably the Islanders' best and most popular player in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The St. Louis-born center's 1.17 points per game is tops for USA-born hockey players. His game-winning-goal in the "Easter Epic," the Islanders' 3-2, four-overtime victory over the Washington Capitals in the decisive Game 7 of the 1987 Patrick Division semifinals is not included in the Islanders' pregame video. The 40th anniversary video seems intent to pretend he didn't exist. LaFontaine became a member of the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame nine years ago and yet he has been left out of the Islanders Hall of Fame. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N99-iJlqmTM The last time LaFontaine was in the Coliseum was Feb. 5, 2008, during a game between the Islanders and the Anaheim Ducks. Brian Burke Anaheim's general manager, Brian Burke invited LaFontaine to the game to discuss Burke's potential support of LaFontaine's nonprofit organization, Champions in Courage, which funds the construction of interactive playrooms in children's hospitals. The Islanders denied LaFontaine a credential for the game. However, Burke provided a ticket for LaFontaine, and the two continued their meeting in a suite reserved for the Ducks' owners. Lafontaine and former Islander Steve Webb biked 550 miles over 48 hours, from Toronto to New York last September, to raise money for charity. The Islanders issued a news release on their website about the event. The release mentioned Webb, but not LaFontaine. The Islanders confirmed these events happened but didn't comment. I'm appalled by these actions of the Islanders organization no different than disliking how the Flyers treated Lindros. The Islanders could use the public-relations boost accompanying a reconciliation. LaFontaine and his family have remained a fixture on Long Island. He coaches the Long Island Royals, a midget hockey team that won a state championship last month. The Islanders have won only two playoff series in the last 25 years. This will be the fifth time that they finish last in their division. Their home attendance is 29th this season among the NHL's 30 teams. As the 2015 expiration of the Coliseum's lease nears it seems time to honor one of the greatest American hockey players ever. "There's nothing more I would have loved to see," LaFontaine said, "than the Islanders coming back to prominence." Lastly, a video of the top 10 goals scored by Pat Lafontaine. http://www.thepostga...areer-disappear http://online.wsj.co...2036433148.html
