World War II vet delivers stirring rendition of national anthem before Islanders game

The moment Dominick Critelli lifted his soprano saxophone at UBS Arena, the building fell quiet. Minutes later, it erupted — and then the internet did, too.

Critelli’s rendition of the national anthem before Saturday night’s Islanders–Rangers game didn’t rely on flourishes or modern twists. The 104-year-old World War II veteran from Floral Park played a traditional arrangement, choosing reverence over reinvention. That restraint is precisely what made it unforgettable.

“You can’t add to that,” Critelli said afterward in Newsday. “You can’t touch that.”

What he did add was feeling. As he played, fans sang along, voices filling the arena before chants of “USA! USA!” followed. The ovation lingered long after Critelli left the ice. Within minutes, clips of the performance were everywhere — shared by major hockey accounts, national sports outlets and fans who felt the same chills watching from home.

“I’m trying to give it a heart,” Critelli said. “I’m trying to give it something that you love, like I do.” Born in Italy and immigrating to the United States at age 8, Critelli spoke with pride about the country he served and still cherishes. “This is my country. There’s no other country in the world like this country.”

Critelli served in the U.S. Army from October 1942 to November 1945, rising to staff sergeant with the 95th Infantry Division and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Asked to perform before the rivalry matchup between the New York Islanders and the Rangers, he called the opportunity “something special.”

As the anthem ended, it felt bigger than hockey. It was a reminder of history, gratitude and perspective — delivered not with spectacle, but with sincerity.

By the time the puck dropped, Critelli’s performance had already won the night. Goosebumps lingered in the arena, and across social media, his message — simple, heartfelt and timeless — continued to echo.