Life After Hockey on Long Island
It just feels right. Many former New York Islanders players, hailing from various parts of Canada and beyond, are finding a home on Long Island after their hockey careers. Once the ice is gone, they dive into a completely different rhythm as everyday New Yorkers.
Eric Cairns, an Ontario native who played for the Islanders from 1998 to 2004, reflected on this transition just before the 2025-26 NHL season kicks off.
Things are quite different now for the big defenseman compared to his playing days when he would rush back to the mainland after the hockey season. He missed out on all the summer fun Long Island has to offer and mostly found himself at the Nassau Coliseum or stuck on the busy Hempstead Turnpike during the dreary winters.
Taking on a role as the team’s director of player development changed everything for Cairns. Now living year-round near Great South Bay in West Islip, he’s embraced the local lifestyle.
At 51, he’s fallen in love with Long Island’s beaches, great golf courses, and even met a woman named Kimberly from Massapequa, whom he later married. It’s a whole new chapter.
Benoît Hogue, another former Islander, spent four seasons with the team from 1991 to 1995 and settled here after hanging up his skates in 2002, primarily to enjoy the warm beaches in summer.
“I’ve had my boat here for 17 years,” said the 58-year-old, who now calls Babylon home. He added, “I ride a lot of bikes now, but I decided to switch to a bike.”
Breaking New Ground
A significant influence on these players was Ed Westfall, the Islanders’ first captain who led from their inaugural season in 1972 until 1977.
When Westfall first arrived, he thought, “Where is Long Island?” An Ontario native, he had won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins prior to joining the Islanders.
At 85, he remembers how his initial experience was filled with challenges and loneliness. However, after a conversation with the team’s general manager Bill Torrey, he changed his perspective. Torrey encouraged him to let go of feelings of “self-pity” and accept his new situation. This shift prompted him to assist other players in adjusting to their new lives.
Westfall organized housing for newcomers who struggled with the unfamiliarity of living away from their previous homes in hockey. “I never liked seeing what I went through,” he shared, talking outside a skating rink named in his honor. “I didn’t like seeing men have to live in motels and hotels.” His efforts laid a foundation of community and warmth among former players over the decades.
A New Community
Players like Cairns and Hogue, who recently helped build an Islanders-themed playground at the Glen Cove YMCA, really immerse themselves in local life. “We’re just part of the community. I’m just a regular guy and that’s part of what I love,” said Cairns.
Hogue, a Stanley Cup champion, has also dedicated time to coaching youth hockey at North Shore for five years. “I was only going to do it for a year, but my parents were great and my kids were fantastic. I just loved them and didn’t want to leave,” he joked about the Rebels’ team that plays at Clark Gillies Arena.
Being recognized as alumni during home games at UBS Arena, with standing ovations no less, makes the experience even more rewarding for them. “Now I can really enjoy Long Island by going to so many games,” Hogue said as he recalled the 1993 playoff upset against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Westfall continues to be celebrated for his contributions to the team, which won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1979 to 1983. “Our fan base is our heart and soul,” Cairns remarked. “They are part of the team and provide the support we feel on the ice and beyond.”
