Islanders Surprise Young Fans With Playoff Tickets

As they were getting ready to host the first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky visited lucky fans across Long Island to personally give them tickets to the game.

Ledecky, joined by Islanders mascot Sparky the Dragon, visited seven fans who have all been affected by recent unfortunate circumstances, illness or loss. They and their families were all given tickets to Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"The great thing about the New York Islanders is the community trust," Ledecky said. "We're stalwarts of that trust. To be able to take playoff tickets to those who truly need them, can't afford them or have been through personal hardship is a wonderful thing for the team to do. Sparky and I had a wonderful day meeting all of these terrific people. We're so excited about hosting them Wednesday night for the first night of the playoffs."

Ledecky and Sparky started the day by surprising Daniel and Christopher Ferrera at Sewanhaka High School, Andre Lewis at Floral Park Memorial High School, a 13-year-old who takes care of his sick mother; and Ogden Toussant at Elmont Memorial High School, who recently lost his mother.

Afterword, they made trips to the homes of some huge Isles fans. They visited the Bayshore home of 18-year-old Dale Lillibridge, who is battling Ewing's Sarcoma for the second time; 11-year-old Peyton Wilson in Ronkonkoma, whose father recently died; 17-year-old Derek Zacchino of Bethpage, who is battling brain cancer; and 17-year-old Robert Bancheri of Huntington Station, who was just diagnosed with Lymphoma.

Bancheri was surrounded by family and was sporting a No. 13 Mathew Barzal jersey when he opened his front door to see Ledecky and Sparky there to greet him. Bancheri had no idea that his aunt Katie had nominated him to receive the tickets.

"I literally had no clue," he said. "I was just told that my grandma was coming over for dinner I had no clue that everyone was just showing up. [It's] surreal. It just shows how much support I have from a pro sports team and from my whole family. It shows how big of a support group I have."

Bancheri was unfortunately unable to make Wednesday's game because of his treatment, but he'll be at game 2 on Friday to hopefully watch the Isles continue to win.

"This was such a shock to all of us," Katie Bancheri said. "He's a huge Islanders fan…I think it'll give him the strength to get through the chemo, this first round while he's staying the hospital. We don't know what to expect, but I think this will definitely be a happy part of that whole thing."

In continuing to give back to the community, Sparky visited Cohen Children's Medical Center on Tuesday. He spent the day meeting with fans and handing out gifts to them.

"The children that we met today are so inspiring," Ledecky said. "The ones that are battling back against all odds of having some illness are terrifically inspiring. Not only to myself and Sparky, but to the whole team. We talked to the team about these great kids. [The Islanders] are excited to have them there rooting them on against the Penguins. I think it makes a difference. I think it makes a difference to the players and the community that they're going to be there rooting on their team."