A 98-year-old World War II veteran brought a raucous, sold-out hockey arena to a hushed standstill with a profoundly moving saxophone performance of the American national anthem on Saturday night.
A Moment of Unity in a Rivalry Arena
The extraordinary scene unfolded at the UBS Arena in New York, where a crowd of 17,500 fervent fans of the bitter rivals, the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, had gathered for a highly anticipated showdown. As veteran Dominick Critelli, dressed in an Islanders jersey, began his rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, the electric atmosphere transformed into one of complete reverence.
The packed arena fell into a deep silence, broken only by the soulful notes from his saxophone. That silence then erupted into wild cheers and a thunderous standing ovation as he hit the final, powerful notes. Critelli, clearly moved, saluted the crowd as chants of 'USA' echoed unanimously from fans of both teams.
A Life of Service and Music
Critelli's connection to the anthem and his adopted country runs deep. He immigrated to the United States from Italy as a young boy and later returned to Europe to fight during the Second World War. Music has been a constant thread throughout his life, with his most significant audience prior to this being during the war itself.
He recounted to the New York Post how he once played on top of a tank rolling into the Netherlands to help liberate the country from Nazi occupation. "I guess, it must have been 50,000, 60,000 people," he recalled. "It's amazing, I’ve gone through so much. I love this country. If I hadn’t come to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini."
Social Media Erupts with Praise
As footage of the poignant performance circulated online, fans across the nation rushed to express their admiration. The response transcended team loyalties, with one self-described Rangers fan and "Islander hater" commenting, "Could be the greatest performance of an anthem ever..."
Another viewer declared it might be "the greatest anthem ever," while others focused on thanking Critelli for his service. "This is incredible!!! Unreal!!!! Great job sir and thank you for everything you did and continue to do for your country," wrote one emotional fan.
The event served as a powerful reminder of shared national pride, momentarily uniting rival fanbases through a veteran's heartfelt tribute to the country he fought for and loves.
