Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders [Hardcover]

Alan Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

The National Hockey League saw the birth of a new dynasty in 1980. The New York Islanders had been an expansion franchise in 1972 in the New York City suburbs of Long Island. For years they played in the long shadow of the big-city New York Rangers and were considered the league’s laughingstock during their first season. Miraculously, eight years later, they were champions. Despite their mercurial rise in the 1970s—which included a first-place overall finish in the 1978-79 season—the Islanders were still considered chokers because of playoff failures. The most frustrating failure of all came at the hands of the rival Rangers, who beat them in 1979 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. A year later they stumbled through an injury-plagued and inconsistent regular season. When the playoffs arrived again, however, they were ready. Bolstered by the late-season addition of speedy center Butch Goring and the bitterness of the previous year’s defeat, the Islanders overcame their past failures and put together an exhausting and dramatic run to their first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. In the Finals they met the still-dominant Philadelphia Flyers, two-time champions in the 1970s. The ensuing battle demonstrated not only the promise with which the Islanders had always teased their fans, but also the maddening struggles that seemed to hold them back every year. That is, until Game 6, when Bob Nystrom, an everyman’s everyman, scored the clinching goal at 7:11 of overtime to make history in both the NHL and on Long Island. It is a moment that, 25 years later, still lives in the hearts of Islanders fans and in the annals of Long Island, as a region and a community. It is a moment that spawned a run of four consecutive championships, the longest by any United States-based professional team and a run that has since gone unmatched. Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders is the story of how it happened, how it came together, and what it felt like to be there.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan Hahn has covered the New York Islanders for Newsday in New York for five seasons. He coauthored Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders (Sports Publishing, 2002). In 2000 he won NewsdayÂ’s Publisher Award in Sportswriting for his coverage of the team. He also won two Press Club of Long Island awards for his work. Hahn grew up on Long Island right along with the Islanders franchise and experienced the Stanley Cup dynasty as a young fan. He played hockey and basketball throughout his childhood and eventually took basketball to the NCAA level at Long Island University-C.W. Post. He now resides in Brentwood, New York, with his wife and two children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC; Assumed First edition (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582613338
• ISBN-13: 978-1582613338
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lockout Relief, November 17, 2004

By 

Kungfucharlie "Kungfucharlie" (West Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders (Hardcover)

Really, really enjoyed reading this book. From the foreword to the last page, the story of how the 1980 New York Islanders captured the Stanley Cup really comes alive. I felt the goosebumps of a 10 year old kid all over again as I read this book. My only regret: it's a bit short.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back when hockey was played by real men., August 1, 2005

By 

John T. "JT" (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders (Hardcover)

This book is a must read for all current and former Islander fans. So many great memories were rehashed while reading this book. The only problem I had with this book was that it had to end. By the way, not only should fans read this book, it should be required reading material for all current islanders' players. The book will bring you back to a better time and place when there were no ads on the boards, no half naked 16 year old girls skating between whistles, no instigation penalties, and most importantly, when the NY Rangers did not have the means to buy a Stanley Cup. Too bad hockey turned into the traveling circus as it is today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, January 10, 2009

By 

T. Green (Honesdale, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birth of a Dynasty: The 1980 New York Islanders (Hardcover)

Growing up on Long Island..The whole community felt like we ALL won the Cups. This Book relives a simpler time for many. It brought back many memories from that era. Islander Fans will LOVE this book..Plain and simple. So from that standpoint. I HIGHLY recommend Book.