A World War II veteran left an arena full of rowdy hockey fans stunned into silence with a breathtaking performance of The Star-Spangled Banner on Saturday night.
Dominick Critelli, who fought in the 95th Infantry division against the Nazis, performed the anthem on his saxaphone before New York rivals Islanders and Rangers took to the ice at the UBS Arena in a hugely anticipated showdown.
But the packed out 17,500-seater arena fell silent as Critelli’s performance began, before wild cheers and applause grew as he hit the final notes of the National Anthem.
At the end of his performance Crittelli, who was dressed in an Islanders jersey, saluted the crowd as chants of ‘USA’ erupted in unison from Rangers and Islanders fans, who are otherwise bitter sporting rivals.
Critelli immigatred to the United States from Italy as a young boy, according to the New York Post, returning to Europe to fight during the second World War.
As the footage circulated on social media of Critelli’s performance, fans across the United States were compelled to congratulate Critelli on such a moving rendition.
World War II veteran Dominick Critelli plays the national anthem before Islanders vs Rangers
The veteran salutes the crowd at the end of his rendition, which ignited massive cheers
‘Could be the greatest performance of an anthem ever… from a diehard rangers fan and islander hater,’ one fan commented.
Another said: ‘Might be the greatest anthem ever. People are saying it.’
‘This is incredible!!! Unreal!!!! Great job sir and thank you for everything you did and continue to do for your country,’ another fan wrote.
Music has been a central part of Critelli’s life, and he told the Post that his biggest audience came during the war when he played on top of a tank rolling into the Netherlands to liberate the country from Nazi rule.
‘I guess, it must have been 50,000, 60,000 people,’ he was quoted as saying. ‘It’s amazing, I’ve gone through so much.
‘I love this country. If I hadn’t come to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini.’
Critelli spent 151 days at war, according to Mission Margraten Plus, a non-profit organization that has worked to connect vets like Critelli with the communities in the Netherlands that they liberated.
In November 1944, Critelli flew 14 missions where he dropped supplies to isolated US soldiers stuck behind enemy lines. He was awarded to Air Medal for his bravery at war.
