As an undergraduate student at Hofstra University in the mid-1980s, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was a frequent fan inside Nassau County Coliseum, the original home of the New York Islanders.
“There was nothing like the Nassau Coliseum,” Cooper said. “That was a one-of-a-kind arena. I came in after their Cup runs, but they were still at the top of the league and had a lot of their (top) players. They were going through a little bit of transition, but what a phenomenally passionate fan base. It was a lot of fun going to those games. It’s sad to see they’re not there anymore.