ELMONT, N.Y. — Long Island University's men's and women's hockey teams were honored Tuesday night at UBS Arena during the New York Islanders' game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Both programs were recognized during an in-game public address announcement that also spotlighted the upcoming Empire State Holiday Invitational, a four-team NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament scheduled for December 28–29 at UBS Arena.
"We are incredibly proud to wear the shark and represent LIU, and as the only Division I hockey program on Long Island, having the opportunity to build a relationship and partnership with the New York Islanders is special," said senior Grace Babington. "It means a lot to be recognized by an organization that represents hockey on Long Island. We are proud of what we are building at LIU and grateful to be part of a team that represents something bigger than ourselves."
The tournament is a centerpiece of the five-year partnership announced in April between Long Island University, the New York Islanders and UBS Arena. LIU will serve as the host institution and compete annually, establishing a new college hockey tradition on Long Island.
The partnership strengthens LIU's presence in the region's hockey community. Both programs play their home games at Northwell Health Ice Center, the official practice facility of the Islanders.
"It means a lot to us as a team to be recognized by the New York Islanders, and we're grateful for the relationship we're building with the organization," said junior Isaac Lambert. "It's exciting to see that connection growing, and we appreciate the support they've shown us. What stood out to me the most was how many people recognized us and showed their support throughout the night. It was a great feeling to represent LIU and see how much support there is for our program."
The recognition follows a recent visit to LIU by Islanders Co-Owner Jon Ledecky as part of the University's Centennial CEO Speaker Series. During the event, members of both hockey programs named Ledecky an honorary captain for the 2026–27 season and presented him with a customized LIU Hockey jersey.
The partnership represents a continued commitment to expanding college hockey's presence on Long Island and connecting LIU student-athletes with one of the NHL's premier organizations.
Tickets: Tickets for the Empire State Holiday Invitational are available through Ticketmaster for December 28 and December 29
