Andy MacDonald signed autographs at the team store on Tuesday, July 19th. It was one signing I couldn’t attend. But not to worry as I had many friends and Twitter buddies who were there to see first hand what was going on.
The 24-year-old defenseman has matured considerably since being drafted five years ago. He was thrust into the spotlight as half of the top defense pairing after the departure of James Wisniewski and rose to the occasion. He has also known devastating injury with a torn labrum at the end of the season. Last Tuesday was the first day Amac returned to the ice at one of the Islanders youth hockey camps. The young campers enjoyed it, but Andy probably enjoyed it more. According to the report from the Isles website, Andy said
“I was going to start skating last week, but I couldn’t get around to it, I heard I was going to be doing some work on the ice, so I was pretty excited about it. I was anxious to see how the hip felt and it felt really good, so no worries there.”
To see Andy off the ice, you wouldn’t expect his strength. He is slender - very slender. Then again, so is Travis Hamonic. Yet they are a formidable team together.
But at the Team Store, Andy is just another young NHL star for fans to get up-close to. And he enjoyed it.
“I can’t say I ever thought I would experience anything like this,” MacDonald said of the signing. “It’s something very special and you get an appreciation for being able to play at this level.”
My Twitter buddy
@Shockz81388 was there on line with the other over 150 fans, so I asked him a few questions. I was curious if he felt the Islanders perhaps didn’t promote this signing as much as the others. You know, since they are a little BUSY with the #VoteYesAug1 campaign that is uber important!
A: I feel like the Islanders did the same thing with promoting this signing just like any other signing. People knew but a lot of people I spoke with believed that they had to preorder his t shirt in order to get the autograph and that kept them away.
Ah, yes, the new Andy MacDonald player t-shirt was a big draw.
From my own experience watching the line at the signings, I was curious if as a male fan, he felt there were more young girls on the line or was there a fair balance of the sexes.
A: I feel like there was a fair balance of fans. He wasn't just a pretty boy on the team he really contributed to the teams late year success. He was always out there when the opponent's top lines were on the ice.
NICE! And no, he isn’t just a “pretty boy.” Although if you people had seen him in his fuzzy hat with ear-flaps this winter, you may think differently.
With only one team store right now (new one being built as we speak AT the Nassau Coliseum that will be open even when there are no events going on), I asked him if the store signings and the way they are handled are a good fit for fans or if there was a different type of appearance he may have attended in the past that was better.
A: I do like the team store signing idea. But I'd also like the other type of appearances. (Such as the dinner at Social restaurant) I feel like they need to expand on promoting the team and the best way to do that is to do more player appearances in different places. A lot of people don't live near the team store in Massapequa, and don't want to make that long trip. There has to be more the team can do when it comes to player appearances and promoting of the team.
The good thing is that during the summer, the players DO head out to Long Island children’s camps and hockey schools to get close to the youngest Isles fans.
For us older fans, the team store has been offering up special discount promotions on merchandise with each signing. But as @Shockz81388 said, sometimes they’re had to take advantage of during the one days sale at the team store.
When I asked if there was anything he’d like to see changed the answer was simple.
A: I would like to see them possibly make the signing a little later. Most people I know work until 5-6 at night and to have the signing at 6:30 just doesn't give people time to really relax after a long hard day at work. Making the signing from 7-8 gives people more of an advantage to breathe after work instead of feeling the pressure to rush to get to the signing or they will miss out on getting an autograph.
Something to consider. But for those who can get there, it’s fun to talk hockey with fellow fans in the cool air-conditioning of the mall on a hot summer evening and then getting to say a few words to a favorite player.
Next up is Ty Wishart, another Islanders budding star. He will be signing on Tuesday. One day before the July 27th Islanders VoteYes rally. Come by and say Hi!
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