{"id":2526217,"date":"2025-12-29T14:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T19:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-nhl-crowd-erupts-in-chants-of-usa-after-104-year-old-wwii-vets-epic-anthem-performance\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:37:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T19:37:43","slug":"watch-nhl-crowd-erupts-in-chants-of-usa-after-104-year-old-wwii-vets-epic-anthem-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-nhl-crowd-erupts-in-chants-of-usa-after-104-year-old-wwii-vets-epic-anthem-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: NHL Crowd Erupts in Chants of &#8216;USA&#8217; After 104-Year-Old WWII Vet&#8217;s Epic Anthem Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-nhl-crowd-erupts-in-chants-of-usa-after-104-year-old-wwii-vets-epic-anthem-performance%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2526217&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>At 104 years old, World War II veteran Dominick Critelli stepped onto <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-governor-hochul-booed-at-ny-rangers-game\/\" title=\"New ... Governor Hochul BOOED at NY Rangers Game\">center ice<\/a> at UBS Arena and played the U.S.national anthem on his soprano saxophone, drawing a standing ovation and &#8220;USA&#8221; chants from the crowd. Critelli dedicated the performance to the comrades he lost in the war, saying he performs to honor them. A musician for more than 90 years, he served 151 days in combat, survived the Battle of the Bulge, and flew risky supply missions behind enemy lines, earning several campaign and service medals. Born in italy and now living in Floral Park, Critelli said he loves the United States and felt lucky to have made it home. The emotional moment came before the New York Islanders&#8217; 2-0 win over the New York Rangers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>At 104 years old, most Americans are <em>far&nbsp;<\/em>removed from the public eye.<\/p>\n<p>But for one World War II veteran and New York Islanders fan, age was nothing but a number as he stepped onto center ice with a soprano saxophone in hand and brought an NHL arena to its feet on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of singing the national anthem, Dominick Critelli played it &mdash; just as he once did overseas during the war, according to cable channel <a href=\"https:\/\/longisland.news12.com\/104-year-old-wwii-vet-says-sax-national-anthem-at-ubs-was-for-fallen-friends\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News 12 Long Island<\/a> &mdash; turning a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >familiar pregame ritual<\/a> into a deeply personal act of remembrance.<\/p>\n<p>The response was immediate and overwhelming at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, with fans erupting into sustained patriotic applause as the final notes echoed through the building.<\/p>\n<p>You can watch the incredible moment, and the swelling &ldquo;USA&rdquo; chants at the end, for yourself below:<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">104 year old World War 2 Veteran Dominick Critelli performed the National Anthem on the saxophone at tonight&rsquo;s game! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/m0v0WT6L2Y\">pic.twitter.com\/m0v0WT6L2Y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NYIslanders\/status\/2005107346662436870?\">December 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Afterward, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/law-enforcement-expert-breaks-down-search-for-white-house-cocaine-perpetrator\/\" title=\"Expert analyzes search for White House cocaine suspect.\">veteran explained<\/a> the moment was not about him, but about the men he served alongside, saying the performance was dedicated to his fallen buddies who never made it home.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I go to these places, I want to do it, I want to represent them, to do something for them. That&rsquo;s all I can do for them,&rdquo; Critelli told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorney-lin-wood-under-investigation-over-whether-he-voted-illegally-in-2020-election-report\/\" title=\"Attorney Lin Wood Under Investigation Over Whether He Voted Illegally In 2020 Election: Report\">news station<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Critelli added that he&rsquo;s been playing music for over 90 years now &mdash; but that&rsquo;s hardly his claim to fame.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/news\/wwii-veteran-us-national-anthem-new-york-islanders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NHL<\/a>, Critelli spent 151 days in combat during World War II, enduring some of the conflict&rsquo;s most dangerous moments.<\/p>\n<p>He survived the Battle of the Bulge and flew missions behind enemy lines, delivering critical supplies to isolated American troops cut off from support.<\/p>\n<p>For that service, he earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, along with the American Theater Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/28\/sports\/wwii-vet-104-thrills-rangers-islanders-crowd-with-national-anthem-on-saxophone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>, Critelli was born in Italy, giving him an especially unique perspective of some of the horrors of WWII.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I love this country,&rdquo; he told the New York Post.<\/p>\n<p>Critelli added: &ldquo;If I hadn&rsquo;t come home to this country, I&rsquo;d be stuck with Mussolini.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Critelli now resides in Floral Park.<\/p>\n<p>The emotional rendition of &ldquo;The Star-Spangled Banner&rdquo; appeared to have also inspired Critelli&rsquo;s Islanders, who beat their cross-state rivals, the New York Rangers, 2-0 in Saturday&rsquo;s tilt.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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