Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Joey MacDonald (with guest Abbey Levy)
Official announcement from an actual professional goalie: what we do as fans has no outcome on a game whatsoever. Joined by NY Sirens goalie and die hard Islanders fan Abbey Levy, we remember Joey MacDonald, a back-up turned starter who had the game of his life for an undermanned and lottery-bound squad.
After spending years in the AHL for the Red Wings organization, MacDonald came to Long Island to play the same role in Bridgeport. But an injury to Rick DiPietro (!!) and a stalemate with Wade Dubielewicz suddenly made MacDonald the starter for the 2008-09 Islanders, who had low expectations and a roster full of rookies and journeymen.
For a month, they looked like a Cinderella story, and MacDonald was named the NHL’s Third Star for November. But then a prolonged slump and his own injuries helped derail the already shaky Islanders. His season’s high point was an incredible and unexpected shutout of the defending Stanley Cup champions back where it all began for him.
Abbey tells us about the gravity of the PWHL’s historic first season and what’s in store for Year 2, her very deep Islanders fandom and the idols that inspired her to go down the goalie path and how getting away from the game (and getting your nails done) can be a huge help during both good and bad times.
We can’t thank Abbey enough for giving us a huge chunk of her time. She’s an insightful athlete and a dedicated Islanders fan and we wish her and the Sirens the best of luck this season, which starts on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Prudential Center, where they will be playing all of their home games.
MORE ON ABBEY:
The (now somewhat infamous) Rick DiPietro jersey walk in:
.@abbey_levy39 with the fire @HDumpty39 game day fit. pic.twitter.com/9DKBHpGo7S— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 3, 2024
These pads are incredible. And the idea she has for her mask this season is inspiring.
PWHL Sirens goalie, Abbey Levy, revealed her new kit for the upcoming season pic.twitter.com/09FHqYVeEK— BarDown (@BarDown) November 13, 2024
Video from her shootout win over Montreal at UBS Arena last season.
WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!
On the day he picked up his first professional shutout for Toledo of the ECHL, Joey MacDonald also signed his first NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings, a team he would eventually return to many years later.
After five seasons in the minors, and a few games with the Wings and Bruins (who picked him up on waivers), MacDonald was signed by the Islanders in July of 2007. He played most of the next season in Bridgeport, which was eventful and included a fight with Wilkes-Barre goalie John Curry in what was the biggest brawl in Sound Tigers history.
He won the back-up role in 2008 (possibly because he was on a one-way contract) but due to a series of injuries to Rick DiPietro, ended up starting the majority of the games for the first half.
And he looked damn good in these legendary pads:
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
MacDonald was in net for the Islanders’ home opening with over St. Louis in October of 2008 and was named the First Star of the Game. The fans even chanted his name!
A few weeks later he helped the Islanders beat the Rangers 2-1 at MSG
In an incredible twist, MacDonald shot out of the gate hot. He was the NHL’s winningest goaltender for November of 2008 and was named the league’s Third Star of the Month.
He even got to train with some firefighters in North Bellmore while playing for the Islanders. Talk about living the full Long Island experience.
December was a different story. though. He lost 11 straight games before finally getting a win on New Year’s Eve. Then in mid January, MacDonald got hurt himself and eventually ceded the starting duties to Yann Danis, who was outpacing him for the already lottery-bound Islanders.
Get a load of these bad asses:
Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
MacDonald’s Masterpiece. March 27, 2009 a 42-save 2-0 shutout over the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, his former club. He got a little help from the posts but that’s okay.
He left the Islanders to sign with the Maple Leafs in 2009 and was traded to Anaheim a year later. MacDonald eventually returned to the Detroit organization and became a surprisingly steady spot starter as they set an NHL record for the longest home winning streak from the beginning of a season (23 games).
MacDonald finished up in North America with two years in Calgary and an AHL deal with the Canadiens and then played in Germany for the Schwenningen Wild Wings of the DEL.
He did have a chance to sign with Lokomotiv of the KHL and could have been part of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of most of that team.
What makes a “Weird Islander?”
We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:
Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.
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