Young Islanders Skate Into Sunrise Mall

It may be summer but the Boys of Winter are still going to be hanging around.

Members of the New York Islanders will be participating in autograph sessions at the Islanders Team Store, located in the in Massapequa throughout the summer.

Recently, fans lined up for a chance to meet the future of the Islanders organization, with some the teams’ top young prospect in attendance.

Mikko Koskinen, Calvin De Haan, Matt Donovan, Aaron Ness and Tony Romano were on hand to sign memorabilia and pose for pictures with young Islander fans.

“The Islanders are a community oriented team, doing a tremendous amount of events throughout the year and our players come around to help us spread the word and do some good will,” said Ann Rina, an Islanders’ Community Relations Representative. “We are here for the people of Long Island, and having these guys commit to the area, it speaks greatly for the type of people they are.”

The Islanders selected Mikko Koskinen late in the first round in the 2009 NHL Draft. The Finland-born goaltender started three games last season, winning two of them. He will most likely be part of the team in 2011-12 as a pure, young talent.

“It was a fun experience last season with the Islanders and hopefully I have learned a lot from it,” Koskinen said. “Hopefully the organization can succeed with the new arena and serve as the next step to be a better hockey team.”

Calvin De Haan currently plays for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League, but was selected 12^th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Islanders. He played for Team Canada at the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he helped collect two silver medals.

Matt Donovan was drafted by the Islanders in the 2008 NHL Draft after playing college hockey at the University of Denver, a top national program. He played for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL from 2007 to 2009. He also played for the United States in the World Junior A Challenge and the 2010 World Junior Championships, winning a pair of gold medals.

Aaron Ness recently forwent his senior season with a prestigious collegiate program at the University of Minnesota to officially sign with the Islanders after they drafted him back in 2008. While at Roseau High School, he was named the 2008 Minnesota Mr. Hockey, given to the most outstanding high school player in the state.

Tony Romano is a local Long Islander from Smithtown who graduated from St. Anthony’s. He was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 2006 NHL Draft before being traded to the Islanders in 2008. He currently plays for the teams’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

“Growing up here, I was an Islanders fan as a kid, so being traded here was really exciting for me and I couldn’t wait to see what was going on with the organization," Romano said. “The fans are everything and are what pushes the team. The vote coming is huge to both the Islanders and Long Island.”

The next signing is Tuesday June 28, and the Isles' Josh Bailey and Michael Haley will be on hand.