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The Islanders to retire John Tonelli and Butch Goring's numbers

The Islanders to retire John Tonelli and Butch Goring's numbers
02 Jan
2020
Not in Hall of Fame

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that the New York Islanders will be retiring the numbers of John Tonelli and Butch Goring this year.

John Tonelli played his first three seasons in pro hockey with the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association, and he debuted on Long Island for the 1978-79 season.  The Left Wing played there for seven and a half seasons, and was a member of all four of New York’s Stanley Cup wins, and he was named a Second Team All-Star twice. For the Islanders, Tonelli would accumulate 544 Points in 594 Games.  Currently, his number 27 is being worn by Anders Lee, the current captain of the Islanders.  Tonelli has asked that Lee continue to wear that number as long as he is in New York.  His number will go up the rafter on their February 21 home game against the Detroit Red Wings.  He is currently ranked #39 on our Notinhalloffame.com hockey list of those to consider for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Butch Goring was traded from the Los Angeles Kings during the 1979-80 season, and he was the final piece of the puzzle that would help the Islanders win their first Stanley Cup.  He would play with New York until 1985, and like Tonelli, he was also a member of all four Stanley Cup wins.  Goring was especially valuable in the 1981 Championship, when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy.  He played 332 Games, scoring 195 Points for New York.  Goring’s number 91 will be officially retired on February 29, at their home game against the Buffalo Sabres.  He is currently ranked #38 on our Notinhalloffame.com hockey list.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Butch Goring and John Tonelli for earning this honor.

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] . Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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