EXCLUSIVE: Bruce Bennett's Famed Photography Career Vaulted by Early Islanders Days

The world's best hockey photographer got his start with the New York Islanders almost a half-century ago and Bruce Bennett, 68, still is going strong.

"I started my career shooting games at the Coliseum in the 1974-75 season," the lifetime Long Islander revealed. "That was more than 6,000 games ago."

Having completed his "shoots" of the Isles-Canes series, Bruce is now jetting to the assorted postseason series being played; always in quest of "the perfect picture."

But, then again, he's already been there and done that.
"Three of my all-time favorite shots," Bennett grinned, "featured the Islanders."

Number Three was taken on May 17, 1983 at "The Old Barn." which, by the way, was only eleven years old at the time.

It was one of the most memorable dates in Islanders history. The Nassaumen beat the Oilers to sweep to their historic fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.

Bennett: "It was the game's final minutes and the win was in the bag. Bryan Trottier stood up on the Islanders bench, facing the crowd. He then led the crowd in a celebratory cheer and I photographed it."

It was a unique work of art for various reasons; among them that the picture departed from Bruce's photography of on-ice action. Which brings us to number two and then his favorite of them all.

The runner-up sweetly depicts both the artistry and strength of Islanders captain Denis Potvin. In the photo, defenseman Denis has delivered the perfect hip check, sending an opposing forward upside-down -- dive bombing, so to speak -- to the ice.

"What made this so special to me," Bennett clarified, "is that it features two Hall of Famers -- Potvin, the French-Canadian defenseman, and Guy Lafleur, the Montreal Canadiens French-Canadian forward -- in a remarkable collision of talents."

But -- at least in the photographer's eyes -- the best of all hails the three seconds after Bob Nystrom scored the 1980 overtime Stanley Cup-winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Coliseum.

The date was May 24, 1980. It was an afternoon game that earned the Orange and Blue its first Stanley Cup championship.

"Bobby is shown leaping in the air just seconds after the red goal light went on," said Bennett. "Teammate Lorne Henning -- he started the play at center ice -- has his hands upraised as he approaches Ny to embrace him.

"Two forlorn Flyers are also in the picture -- forward Mel Bridgman and defenseman Bob Dailey. They had tried to break up the play before Bobby beat the Flyers goalie."

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As splendid are the pictures, they hardly depict the scope of Bennett's work which partially can be explained by arithmetic:

* 321 NHL Pre-Season Games.

* 32 NHL All-Star Games.

* 42 NHL Stanley Cup Deciding Games.

* 2 Winter Classic Games.

* 5 Outdoor NHL Games.

...And that's just for starters. Try these on for size:

* 213 International Tours, Tournaments, Exhibitions.

* 259 Olympic Games In Six Cities.

* 8 WHA Games.

* 26 Old-Timers & Masters Games.

* 53 Minors, Juniors & College Games.

* 57 Arenas Shot in for Regular Season NHL Games.

* 39 NHL Amateur Drafts.

* 1 Memorial Cup Final.

* 1 NWHL.

* 1 Swedish Hockey League.

* 2 World Championships.

* 1 3ICE Game.

There's no question that, after 49 years of enormously creditable work, Bennett belongs in the "Builders" section of both the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto as well as the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota.

"I was told that someone nominated me for the U.S. Hall," Bruce remembered, "and whoever did that, well, it was a nice thought. I'm approaching my 6,000th game --- that's in all leagues -- after reaching 5,000 NHL regular season and playoff games last year."

Over the seasons, Bruce was team photographer for the Islanders from 1982 until 2004 when he sold his company -- Bruce Bennett Studios -- to Getty Images and brought the Islanders relationship with him.

"Working with the Islanders meant a lot to me because it also meant so much to the growth of the franchise," he added, "as well as to the Long Island Region, establishing their own identity.

"Since I've been a lifelong resident of the Island and a person who loves life here, doing the games holds a special meaning to me."

In case you're interested, Bennett's formal title these days is Director of Photography, Hockey Imagery, Getty Images.

And, in case it isn't apparent by now, Bruce's work is as much a labor of love as it is a profession.

"I'm still loving every minute of it," he concluded. "In fact, I can't picture life without it!"