Tribute to Larry Brooks by Islanders Defenseman Tony DeAngelo
LAS VEGAS — Early Thursday morning, Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo expressed his sadness over the passing of hockey columnist Larry Brooks at the age of 75.
“It’s really heartbreaking to hear about Larry Brooks,” DeAngelo shared. “No one did it better than him. He had strong opinions but always shared them face-to-face, allowing me to respond. Over the years, we developed a close relationship and often discussed hockey topics. I’ll really miss our chats.”
DeAngelo expanded on his feelings in a conversation with the Post after the Islanders’ morning skate, prior to their 4-3 overtime victory against the Golden Knights.
“He was a tough critic of the game, but a solid supporter of the players as well,” DeAngelo noted. “When I first met Brooks back in 2017, I was just 22 and a Ranger. He was well-informed, savvy about the CBA, and knew all the latest moves from GMs and coaches.”
“What I appreciated most was his honesty; he really just called it how he saw it,” DeAngelo added. “If you disagreed, you could tell him, and he was always open to that.”
In other team news, the Islanders recalled D. Travis Mitchell from AHL Bridgeport. Scott Mayfield was placed off the roster as his wife, Emily, recently gave birth to their first child.
Mitchell participated in warmups while wearing No. 38 but did not play against the Golden Knights; Adam Boqvist joined Alexander Romanov on defense instead.
Meanwhile, forward Max Shabanov donned a non-contact red jersey during practice on Wednesday, transitioning to a regular practice jersey during the morning skate. Shabanov hasn’t played since October 21st due to an upper body injury.
Coach Patrick Roy commented on Shabanov’s potential return, saying, “We need to see him in contact practices and gauge how he feels.” He added, “Let’s see how things progress.”
Backup goaltender David Rittich is set for a call-up in preparation for Friday’s game against the Mammoths in Salt Lake City. The Islanders currently hold a 2-0 record in the early season, with Ilya Sorokin making 26 saves during the win against Las Vegas.
