The New York Islanders took a break from their road trip to play pond hockey at captain Anders Lee's backyard rink in Minnesota on Sunday. The event featured childhood jerseys, neighborhood kids, and team camaraderie, evoking fond memories for the players. Coach Patrick Roy praised the joy it brought to the group ahead of their focused practice the next day.
On Sunday, during a 16-day road trip, New York Islanders captain Anders Lee, an Edina native, hosted his teammates at his Minnesota home for an impromptu pond hockey session. Lee's neighbor, Ted, had built a backyard rink for his kids but prepared it for the full NHL team, complete with skates and sticks.
The game started with sticks thrown to pick teams, expanding to 17-on-17 as local children joined in. Players shoveled snow—Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman, and Cole McWard took turns—while a firepit kept everyone warm in the cold weather. To add nostalgia, Lee asked teammates to wear favorite childhood jerseys: Matthew Schaefer donned a Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs shirt, Scott Mayfield his University of Denver alma mater gear, and Lee his Edina Hornets high school jersey. Mathew Barzal borrowed one of Lee's black alternate Islanders jerseys from the 2015-16 season, while David Rittich skated in a Joe Sakic Quebec Nordiques uniform. Lee provided trapper hats and mittens for the occasion.
With David Rittich playing forward and Ilya Sorokin observing from the sidelines, Casey Cizikas manned the goal without pads, putting in a strong effort. The simplicity harked back to hockey's roots, contrasting with the grandeur of NHL outdoor games.
"[It’s a] dream scenario for me to have an ice rink in my backyard," Lee said. "Neighbor helped me out... and just had a wonderful day together, skating, hanging out, watching the football games and enjoy each other's company."
Anthony Duclair added, "It was awesome... The last time I skated on an outdoor rink was back in my childhood, so definitely brought a lot of memories back."
Afterward, the team, trainers, and staff watched NFL playoffs and the Spanish Super Cup, even playing mini sticks indoors. "We love getting together as a group... This was a perfect one to do," Lee noted.
The outing boosted team chemistry during the road trip. On Monday, January 12, 2026, in Winnipeg, coach Patrick Roy observed the benefits at practice: "I see the joy in our group right now... I think that's great for the chemistry of the team."
