A 104-year-old WWII Veteran absolutely crushed the National Anthem Saturday on a saxophone before the New York Islanders faced the New York Rangers in the rivalry hockey game, and the crowd went wild!
Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli was helped onto the ice, where he performed a wonderful rendition of the anthem in a custom Islanders jersey complete with the number 104.
His century-old lungs carried the anthem as if he were just 20 years old. Islanders and Rangers fans with hands over their hearts and pride in their eyes sang along with Critelli. It was a moving scene—a scene that unfortunately has become rare since the Colin Kaepernicks of the world tried to diminish the anthem.
It was nearly 10 years ago in 2016 when Kaepernick first sat out the anthem. Since then, the Star Spangled Banner has sadly often been a point of contention. But thanks to Critelli’s pipes, it seems as though America is back.
104 year old World War 2 Veteran Dominick Critelli performed the National Anthem on the saxophone at tonight’s game! pic.twitter.com/m0v0WT6L2Y
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 28, 2025
“USA!” chants rang out following his pre-game performance. The Army Veteran gave a strong salute to the crowd following his last note.
Critelli served as an aircraft mechanic with the 95th Infantry Division Headquarters Battery after immigrating to the United States from Italy. According to the National Hockey League, Critelli spent 151 days in combat during WWII. He fought at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. Critelli went behind enemy lines during the war to help isolated American troops who needed supplies. His service to our country earned Critelli the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars. As well as the American Theatre Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Critelli was honored last summer on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day by French President Emmanuel Macron who awarded Critelli The Legion of Honor, France’s highest military award.
The highly decorated serviceman’s performance Saturday in front of 17,000 hockey fans wasn’t his biggest audience he’s ever played for.
In an interview with The New York Post prior to Saturday’s game, Critelli said he’d once performed on the top of a rolling army tank for thousands after helping free the Netherlands of Nazi rule.
“I guess, it must have been 50,000, 60,000 people,” Critelli told The Post.
All these years later, the proud New Yorker can still put on a show.
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