Brian "Spinner" Spencer

When the NHL awarded an expansion team to Long Island in the early 1970s, a generation of new hockey fans were born.  There was an absolute frenzy amongst newfound hockey-loving fans who adopted the New York Islanders, began to follow the NHL like never before and many who flocked to the Nassau Coliseum to see the expansion team take on the likes of the big bad Bruins, the Broad Street Bullies of Philadelphia, the French Connection of Buffalo and even the California Golden Seals.

The Islanders' faithful had a few favorite players that stood out from the pack of expansion draft cast-offs.  Gary Hart, a tough defenseman; Germain Gagnon, a journeyman forward who was the closest thing the Isles had to a goal-scorer and Brian "Spinner" Spencer, a hustling, bustling, quick-skating enforcer who was the only player on the team who regularly fore-checked, body-checked and mixed it up.

The Buffalo News printed an in-depth feature on the trials and tribulations of Spencer, one of the all-time Islanders favorites.  Read On by clicking here.