So, if you didn’t know, or knew and were wondering the correlation, the New York Islanders (NHL) Mascot is Sparky the Dragon. In order to answer the question as to why, we have to cover some unrelated history (at the time), and answer the question of “when” they adopted the Dragon as their mascot.
After the 2000 season, the Arena Football League’s (then) “Iowa Barnstormers” relocated to New york to play at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
It’s also Important to note, that a little but before this (about five seasons), the New York Islanders Attempted to change their classic NY/Long Island logo, with a fisherman emblem, completed with a costumed fisherman Mascot names “Nyisles”….but everything about that was shut down by fans, and the name, and mascot alike, were thrown out two seasons later in 1997.
So, to get back to the original Point, (the Arena Football Team that relocated to new York) – that team was looking for A new name, and ended up landing on none other than….the New York Dragons.
Fellow arena Occupants, the Islanders, also happened to be four years vacant, and in the market for a new mascot, so, once the Dragons dropped their new character “Sparky the dragon”, the teams decided to share a mascot, to providing a consistent brand identity with the venue and local entertainment landscape.
The Trouble that causes confusion modern day, is the fact the Dragons Ceased operations in 2008, AND “Nyisles” has reappeared, causing confusion for younger and newer fans alike, since the Islanders have not stopped using the Dragon, even to this day. Welp, the more you know!
Chewing on the Wire Media 
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