World War II vet Dominick Critelli, 104, to play national anthem before Islanders-Rangers at UBS Arena

The Islanders and Rangers will meet for the 338th time on Saturday, but the story of the night at UBS Arena will happen right before puck drop.

Floral Park’s Dominick Critelli, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, will perform the national anthem on his saxophone.

Last year, Critelli was knighted and awarded the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest military honor, by French President Emmanuel Macron for his courage and devotion in liberating France during World War II. He attended a ceremony that was also attended by former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Critelli, who served in the U.S. Army, lives about five minutes away from UBS Arena and called hockey the “only game” he likes. But his passion for music runs deeper, and he will get to combine the two Saturday.

“I started music when I was 13 years old,” Critelli told Newsday on Tuesday. “I got a music degree later on, but before I was playing by ear anyways.

“And now I’m 104 . . . I hope I make 105.”

Critelli’s birthday is on April 8, and he said he is in “perfect health.”

Saturday will not be his first time under the bright lights at UBS Arena. In September 2023, he was brought onstage by famous Dutch violinist and orchestra conductor Andre Rieu.

“That place was right up to the ceiling, believe me, that day,” said Critelli, who also appeared at Times Square before the ball dropped last New Year’s Eve for the first time. “We had a beautiful time. Balloons at the end. . . .  It’s a nice place. I like it, and I like the Islanders because they’re the only team that I like.”

Does he get to watch the games on TV?

“When I can,” he said. “You know, I’m a pretty busy guy.”

Even at 104.

Critelli emigrated from Italy to the U.S. at age 8. He attended P.S. 99 in Kew Gardens and had to learn the English language.

He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 28, 1942 to Nov. 21, 1945 and rose to the rank of staff sergeant. He was part of the 95th Infantry Division and notably the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive campaign of the war.

He is grateful for being home, especially at his age, but still gets emotional when talking about his fellow soldiers who did not make it — some as young as 22 years old.

“That's one thing that when I make calls, I think about that,” Critelli said. “Look, you come home and you made it, but there's a lot of them that didn't make it.”

Critelli had no shortage of World War II memories — “I could go on with stories for hours,” he said — and compared how bleak Utah Beach looked eight days after the Normandy landings to how “beautiful” it looked when he traveled there last year, 80 years after D-Day.

Critelli received 13 tickets for family to join him Saturday night. He still plays the saxophone all the time, and as long as there’s a microphone in front of him, a 17,255 capacity crowd at UBS Arena should be able to hear him loud and clear.

“Dominick’s story is amazing,” Islanders senior vice president of content and game presentation Brooklyn Boyars said in a statement to Newsday. “At 104 years young, his energy and passion are an inspiration to all of Isles Nation. We strive to create ‘only-at-the-Islanders’ moments, and having a World War II hero of Dominick’s stature perform the National Anthem at UBS Arena is truly a highlight.”