A 105-year-old WWII Army veteran thrilled Islanders and Rangers fans with a saxophone performance of the national anthem.
Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old WWII Army veteran, was an NYU-trained musician before the war and later became a favorite during troop dances and VIP speeches with his uplifting saxophone talents.
In December 2025, Critelli performed at the UBS Arena with a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner that wowed fans from both teams. He was then invited back to the arena for the Islanders/New Jersey game.
He was given a custom number 105 jersey
Critelli is an Air Medal and three-time Bronze Star recipient, knighted by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2024 for his role in liberating the country from Nazi occupation.
On Saturday, October 3, Critelli returned to the UBS Arena. When he was brought out into the stadium, he was presented with a custom number 105 jersey. It was presented to him by Islanders legend Butch Goring before he gave another performance of The Star-Spangled Banner.
His performance was met with roars of cheering and applause from both Islanders and Rangers fans alike. The reaction was similar online. “Wow. 105. Still going strong. What a man,” wrote one user on YouTube. Another wrote: “Brought tears to my eyes – that’s what patriotism looks like!”
Critelli spoke to The New York Post about his love for his country. “What this country has done for me, no other country in the world could do. And I mean that. I love the USA, and I wouldn’t change it.”
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
