John Tonelli gave his speech full of thank yous on the circular blue carpet at center ice as five of his Islanders teammates from the glory days sat nearby. The current team watched from the bench, all wearing his white jersey.
And then it was time.
The 62-year-old former left wing stood with his wife, two of his sons and his 89-year-old mom, and they watched his No. 27 rise to the Coliseum rafters.
“Tonight is not about me,” Tonelli had told the crowd before thanking the fans and his teammates.
But Friday night really was about him, his chance to hear the “JT” chants rock the Barn, his turn to receive the ultimate honor from his old team, to have his number retired.