Islanders visit West End Elementary

Nielsen and Rolston take a question from third-grader Nicholas McNally.

Courtesy Madeline Donnarumma/West End School

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On Tuesday Nov. 1, the New York Islander’s Brian Rolston and Frans Nielsen visited Lynbrook’s West End Elementary. 

The players shared an interactive assembly focusing on the importance of staying active, eating healthy, and making smart decisions. The NHL players discussed the role of education in achieving their goal of becoming professional hockey players, and emphasis was placed on the role of education in achieving goals. 

Nielsen shared how he dreamed of coming to America and in the fourth grade began to learn English so he could communicate with future teammates. Rolston told the children that his favorite subject was science — and not gym, as most may have thought. 

The players then took questions from students who were curious to know how it felt to score a goal, how much training is required to be a professional athlete. Had either of them ever played on an Olympic team? What were their other goals, now that their dreams of becoming a professional hockey player had been achieved?

The assembly ended with the children thanking the players and NY Islander organization for choosing their school for this special honor. Afterward, the players signed autographs and Islander gear for the students.