Islanders star Kyle Palmieri greets draft picks ahead of Calverton hockey showdown
New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri traded the NHL spotlight for a draft table in Riverhead on Wednesday night, helping one of the Hockey Is Hockey teams build its roster.
Mr. Palmieri joined Ed Westfall, the first captain in Islanders history, at Hotel Indigo as players 18 and older heard their names called during the 11th annual draft. Those in attendance walked to the front of the room to pose with their coaches and the jerseys they’ll wear in Main Event ice and roller games at Peconic Ice Rinks in Calverton.
The draft opened the five-day event under the bubble at the arena named for Mr. Westfall. Hockey Is Hockey brings recreational players together with former NHL, professional and college players.
BPE Ironworks had the first pick and selected John Schiavo, a former minor-league professional and two-time Team USA inline hockey world champion. Schiavo won the 2026 Amerigol Latam Cup Men’s Division II championship Sunday, Aug. 9, as a member of Team Italy.
“It’s not about wins, it’s not about losses,” said Hockey Is Hockey co-founder Jim Tamburino. “It’s not about trophies or championships. It’s simply about bringing all of us together – hockey players, fans, families and all our friends – and just playing the game we love.”
The rosters are not quite finished. Each team can add one additional player by 3 p.m. Friday — whether a professional, college or recreational player or even a celebrity — but must designate that player for either the ice or roller game.
The Main Event Outdoor Roller Game will take place at 7:45 p.m. Friday and the Main Event Ice Game takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The games have featured future NHL talent before. James Hagens played in 2024, a year before the Boston Bruins selected him seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Other former professional and college players scheduled to participate this year include Keith Kincaid, David Ayres, Michael Hagens, Robert Mastrosimone and Ryan Ufko. Full rosters will be posted at peconicicerinks.com.
“I just want to wish everyone the best of luck,” said Riverhead Town Councilman Ken Rothwell, who attended the draft. “The ice rink has been a project that has grown, slowly, taking baby steps, but look where we’re at right now, look what we’re doing. We’re doing a great job.”
Photos by Nick Mongiovi
