At 105, WWII Veteran Dominick Critelli Returns to the Islanders to Play the National Anthem

ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Islanders welcomed back a very special guest Saturday night — a 105-year-old World War II veteran whose saxophone performance has become a cherished part of the team’s game-day tradition.

Staff Sgt. Dominick Critelli returned to UBS Arena before the Islanders’ home opener against the New Jersey Devils and once again played “The Star-Spangled Banner” on his saxophone in front of a packed crowd.

Wearing an Islanders jersey bearing the number 105, Critelli stood before the crowd and delivered the anthem himself.

When the final note ended, he tipped his cap as the arena erupted in applause.

For Critelli, it was another memorable chapter in a life that stretches from World War II to the modern NHL.

A Return to UBS Arena

This was not Critelli’s first time performing the national anthem for Islanders fans.

In December 2025, when he was 104, he performed the anthem at UBS Arena before a game between the Islanders and New York Rangers.

That performance drew a standing ovation and “USA” chants from fans.

Nearly a year later, Critelli was invited back.

This time, the number on his jersey had changed from 104 to 105.

He was also honored as the game’s veteran and presented with the special jersey by Islanders legend Butch Goring.

A Life Shaped by Service

Critelli’s appearance was about much more than hockey.

The World War II veteran spent 151 days in combat during the war and survived the Battle of the Bulge.

According to NHL.com, he received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal for his military service.

His wartime experiences included dangerous missions supporting troops behind enemy lines.

His service eventually became part of a remarkable life story that he continues to share with younger generations.

The Saxophone Has Been With Him for Decades

Music has been another constant throughout Critelli’s life.

He developed a passion for music as a teenager and later trained as a musician. During World War II, he took his saxophone with him overseas, where he played for fellow service members.

Even decades after the war ended, he continued performing.

That same instrument eventually brought him to center ice at UBS Arena.

And at 105, Critelli is still playing.

“I’m Doing It for Them”

Critelli has explained that his performances are not simply about receiving applause.

He sees them as a way of remembering the people who never returned from war.

“I’m doing it for them,” he told The Post.

That perspective helps explain why his appearances have resonated with audiences far beyond hockey.

His performances connect generations — from veterans who remember the war firsthand to young fans who know it only through history books.

Critelli has also continued visiting schools, speaking with students about his experiences and the freedoms he believes are worth protecting.

One More Anthem, One More Memory

When Critelli finished playing Saturday night, the crowd responded with the kind of reception usually reserved for a game-winning goal.

But there was no scoreboard involved.

There was simply a 105-year-old veteran, a saxophone and thousands of people standing together as the national anthem filled the arena.

The Islanders went on to defeat the Devils 6-0 in their home opener. But for many in attendance, one of the night’s most memorable moments happened before the puck was even dropped.

Critelli’s return was a reminder that some stories become more meaningful with time.

At 105, he is still showing up, still playing, and still carrying the memories of those who came before him.

And for one night at UBS Arena, an entire hockey crowd stopped to listen.