The New York Islanders recently announced that passes for the 2012 draft party are now available to the general public through Ticketmaster or by visiting the Nassau Coliseum box office. The draft party is scheduled for Friday, June 22, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Passes to this fan fest are free, but each individual can only reserve up to eight. Doors for the draft party open at 5:30 p.m. and the live stream of the NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh begins at 7 p.m.
Fans will not only get to watch the draft live and see exclusive interviews with the Islanders fourth overall selection, but they will also have the chance to meet some of their favorite players at the draft party. John Tavares will hand out his autographed jersey to preferred season ticket holders, while Matt Moulson, Matt Martin, Nino Niederreiter, Kevin Poulin, Ryan Strome, Casey Cizikas and Calvin de Haan will also be in attendance. Fans will also have the opportunity to interact with select Islanders alumni.
The draft party will once again play host to the Islanders annual year-end blowout merchandise sale, located in the lower lobby. The Islanders Team Store, located next to the Nassau Coliseum box office, will feature additional sales and specials.
Interactive activities on the Nassau Coliseum floor will include exclusive locker room tours, street hockey contests, I.C.E. Tour inflatable games and video game stations. The Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center will once again provide an interactive exhibit at the event, while the popular Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit will also return to the draft party, featuring historic jerseys, sticks and skates used by NHL legends.
The Coliseum scoreboard, which normally hangs well above center ice, will be lowered for up close, oversized interviews of the Islanders players and alumni in attendance. The big screen will also feature exclusive, live coverage from IslandersTV at the draft, with interviews with members of the hockey operations staff and behind-the-scenes footage.
Prior to and during the 2012 draft party, The American Red Cross will host a blood drive. Fans can donate blood in the Coliseum’s exhibition hall anytime between noon and 8 p.m. on draft day.
