105-year-old WWII veteran plays national anthem on saxophone at Islanders home opener
Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old Army veteran of World War II, played the national anthem on saxophone at the New York Islanders' 2026-27 home opener at UBS Arena. It was his second anthem performance there.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old World War II veteran and staff sergeant, played the Star-Spangled Banner on saxophone at UBS Arena before the New York Islanders' 2026-27 home opener on Saturday, 3 October. BreitbartR “Staff Sergeant Dominick Critelli, a 105-year-old World War II veteran, played the Star-Spangled Banner at UBS before a capacity crowd for the New York Islanders’ 2026-27 home opener.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The Islanders were playing the New Jersey Devils. The New York Post said Critelli was honoured as the game's veteran and given a number 105 jersey by Islanders alumnus Butch Goring. New York PostR “when he was honored as the game veteran and given a jersey with the number 105 by Isles alum Butch Goring.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Breitbart reported that Critelli wears a custom jersey with his age on the sleeve each time he plays. It said that he wore 104 when he last played in 2025. It said fans cheered and clapped, and that he tipped his cap to the crowd at the end. BreitbartR “When he last played in 2025, he wore 104, and this year, of course, 105.”“Critelli tipped his cap to the crowd at the end of his performance, which only drew more cheers.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1The Post said the performance was an encore. His first came around December 2025 and went viral, and he was playing again at the same arena. New York PostR “The Floral Park super senior’s encore at UBS Arena came after his start turn there last December” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1According to NHL.com, as quoted by Breitbart, Critelli spent 151 days in combat. His awards include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, the American Theater Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. BreitbartR “Critelli spent 151 days in combat during World War II and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The Post gave more of his background. Born in 1921 in Calabria, Italy, he came to the US aged 8. He was an NYU-trained musician and a flight mechanic who survived the Normandy landings at Utah Beach. It said he flew 14 supply and medicine drops during the Battle of the Bulge. French President Emmanuel Macron knighted him in 2024. New York PostR “French President Emmanuel Macron knighted him in 2024 for his role in helping liberate the country from Nazi occupation, as the flight mechanic survived the Normandy landings at Utah Beach.”“Born in 1921, he came to America from Calabria, Italy, as an 8-year-old” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Critelli told the Post: "What this country has done for me, no other country in the world could do — and I mean that." He said he is recovering from a recent leg injury and uses a temporary walker. The Post added that he is often asked to speak and play at schools, where he talks to students about freedom of speech. New York PostR ““What this country has done for me, no other country in the world could do — and I mean that,””““Every day people call me — ‘will you please talk to my kids?’” Critelli said” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets tell a feel-good patriotic human-interest story. Breitbart gives a short game report. The New York Post gives a longer profile of a 'beloved' veteran.
- Emphasis
- Crowd reaction, his service record and medals, and his gratitude toward America.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet covers the game result. Breitbart omits his biography beyond the NHL.com medal summary. Only right-leaning outlets covered the story, so there is no comparison with left or centre coverage.
- Charged language
- “extra touch of class”“Beloved”“proud patriot”“death-defying”
- For example
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“In an extra touch of class, Critelli tipped his cap to the crowd at the end of his performance” — Breitbart
“The proud patriot’s life story” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Dominick Critelli, 105, a World War II Army veteran, played the national anthem on saxophone at the Islanders' 2026-27 home opener at UBS Arena.
- He earned three Bronze Stars for his wartime service.
- The crowd responded enthusiastically.
- He had played the anthem at the arena before, in 2025.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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105-Year-Old WWII Vet Performs National Anthem on Saxophone at Islanders Game
Celebratory Short, upbeat game note praising the performance and the crowd's reaction.
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Beloved 105-year-old WWII vet returns to play national anthem at Islanders game
Sympathetic Long profile built on Critelli's own quotes, stressing his heroism, patriotism and gratitude to the US.
- 4 Oct 03:04 First BreitbartR 105-Year-Old WWII Vet Performs National Anthem on Saxophone at Islanders Game
- 4 Oct 07:30 +4h 26m New York PostR Beloved 105-year-old WWII vet returns to play national anthem at Islanders game
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.