'USA!' chants erupt as WWII veteran, 104, nails National Anthem on sax before Rangers-Islanders game

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: The UBS Arena erupted in cheers on Saturday, December 27, even before the New York Islanders and New York Rangers touched the puck.

Moments before the opening faceoff, 104-year-old World War II veteran Dominick Critelli delivered a spellbinding rendition of the National Anthem on his saxophone.

Critelli’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was stirring to say the least. When he held the final note for nearly 15 seconds, the crowd roared with a thunderous chant of “USA! USA!” that shook the building.

World War II veteran Dominick Critelli offers a glimpse into his storied life

Ahead of his performance, Critelli spoke with the New York Post about the journey that brought him from Calabria, Italy, to center ice at an NHL arena more than a century later. “I love this country,” Critelli told the paper. “If I hadn’t come to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini.”

Critelli emigrated to the United States as a young man before eventually enlisting in the US Army, where he served as a staff sergeant during World War II. His service placed him at the center of two of the war’s most harrowing chapters, the Normandy landings and the Battle of the Bulge.

In total, Critelli spent 151 days in combat, earning a stack of commendations along the way, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. When asked about the secret to reaching 104, Critelli credited his nightly ritual of drinking a half-glass of wine every night.

It's worth noting that French President Emmanuel Macron recently knighted Critelli for his role in helping liberate France during World War II. “He pins a medal on me, kisses me on both cheeks,” Critelli told the Post. “And I ask, ‘If I’m a knight, where’s my sword and horse?’” the veteran quipped.

That said, Critelli has always been a talented jazz player. He earned a music degree from NYU before returning to Europe to fight the Axis powers. To put the timeline in perspective, Critelli was already 86 years old when Islanders rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer was born.

Saturday night’s anthem may have been unforgettable, but it wasn’t the largest audience Critelli ever played for. That happened during World War II, while helping free the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. At the time, Staff Sgt. Critelli performed atop a rolling tank for a massive crowd of liberated citizens.

“I guess, it must have been 50,000, 60,000 people,” Critelli said. “It’s amazing, I’ve gone through so much.”

Islanders take care of business, Rangers struggle

Once Critelli left the ice and the game finally got underway, Islanders fans found more reason to cheer.

They shut out the Rangers 2-0, with goals from Anders Lee and Simon Holmstrom sealing the win. Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal led the Islanders with four shots on goal apiece, keeping pressure on the Rangers throughout the night.

Islanders goaltender David Rittich was flawless. He stopped all 27 shots he faced, earning his ninth career shutout and denying Rangers forwards Will Cuylle and Artemi Panarin along the way.

The victory pushed the Islanders to second place in the NHL’s Eastern Metropolitan Division. The team now sits at 21 wins and 13 losses, with a plus-five goal differential after scoring 109 goals and allowing 104.

The Rangers, meanwhile, continue to search for consistency. They currently sit sixth in the conference with a 19-17 record.

The team hasn’t been overwhelmed defensively, but the numbers tell a tight story. The Rangers have allowed 107 goals this season while scoring 104, which is a narrow margin that’s been costly in close games like Saturday’s shutout loss.