Tonelli and Fischler Inducted into New York State Hockey Hall of Fame

The honors - and well-deserved ones at that - keep on coming for a pair of New York Islanders legends.

John Tonelli, who was a key piece of the Islanders four Stanley Cups, and Stan Fischler, the legendary hockey historian and journalist, were inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Tonelli recorded 544 points in 594 games with the Islanders from 1978-86. He's one of eight players in franchise history with 200 goals and 300 assists. Tonelli dished the most important assist in team history, setting up Bob Nystrom for the Stanley Cup clinching goal in 1980. The rugged winger is credited with saving the dynasty by scoring the tying and winning goals in a fifth-and-deciding-game against Pittsburgh in 1982. Tonelli also scored the game-winning goal to propel the Islanders to a then-record 15th straight win during the 1981-82 season. His number 27 was retired by the Islanders on Feb. 20, 2020.

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Fischler has been a fixture around the Islanders for 50 years. He covered the team as a writer during the first game in franchise history in 1972 and was a part of the Islanders first telecast in 1974-75. For years, he was beamed into living rooms on SportsChannel and MSG Networks, bringing his unique interview style, hockey acumen and love of the Islanders into fans' homes. He retired from TV after the 2017-18 season, but continued to pen a weekly Maven's Memories column on NewYorkIslanders.com, while also continuing to write for The Hockey News, among other outlets. Fischler is also currently writing a commemorative book to celebrate the Islanders 50th anniversary season.

On Oct. 24, 2022, the Islanders officially dubbed the press box at UBS Arena as

The Stan Fischler Press Level

, the media equivalent of a jersey retirement. Fischler's New York hockey ties even go beyond the Islanders, with the Hockey Maven covering the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils in addition to the Islanders.

Tonelli and Fischler are just the latest Islanders to be inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame. Clark Gillies, Butch Goring, Pat LaFontaine, current President and GM Lou Lamoriello, Bob Nystrom and former TV play-by-play broadcaster Howie Rose were all inducted in 2022.

See here for the full 2023 New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction class.