Pelech Posse Founder Bathtub Jake Loves His Islanders
The following article is courtesy of special guest contributor and Pelech Posse founder, Bathtub Jake.
No one ever said being a New York Islanders fan was easy. For much of my life it hasn’t been, but right now, I couldn’t be having more fun.
Growing up in a hockey household, it was never a doubt that the Islanders would become part of my life. Everyone rooted for the Islanders, and it was a game against the Montreal Canadiens in 2007 where I joined them. The Nassau Coliseum was a second home to me, and no matter how young or uninformed about the sport I was, the fans welcomed me. My 13 years as a supporter haven’t always been the kindest to the Islanders’ faithful, but I never took a season off. Once I got into my teens, I barely remember missing a game.
These last two years, on the other hand, have brought the most enjoyment I’ve ever had as a fan. I’ve attended more games than ever and witnessed incredible changes, many for the better. One development that particularly struck me was the evolution of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech from healthy scratch to top-pairing defensive defenseman.
By the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season, Pelech was not only a mainstay, but the shutdown option on the Islanders’ number one pair with Ryan Pulock. Come the 2019 playoffs, he limited Sidney Crosby to just one point in the Islanders’ four game sweep of the Penguins. However, there was still one problem. He wasn’t receiving the credit he deserved.
Insert the Pelech Posse. On March 30th 2019, the Islanders may have clinched the playoffs in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, but more importantly, a new fangroup was created. To the kind woman who labeled me, David Lazar and a group of our friends, “The Pelech Posse,” we thank you.
My newly created Instagram page, @BathtubJake, named after my proclivity to discuss hockey from the bathtub, became centered around Pelech and his defensive achievements. Thanks to unrelenting support from Drive4Five, who was my fellow preacher of Pelech, the account hit 1,000 followers before 2020.
With an impeccable start to the 2019-2020 season, Pelech himself proved everything I had been saying about him for months. Recording over 21 minutes per game and leading the penalty kill, he matched up against other teams’ best and established himself as the anchor of our backend. As the Islanders achieved success on the back of their stingy blueline, Pelech guided them there. Resultantly, the Posse grew well beyond what I could’ve ever imagined.
The next year followed a rocky December. The Islanders were poised for a bounce back until tragedy struck. Adam Pelech was out for the remainder of the season with an achilles injury. Now, most Islanders fans know the stats: 25-10-3 before Pelech’s injury and 10-13-7 after. The goals against skyrocketed from 2.61 to 3.1. Despite the Islanders’ prolonged decline in the post-Pelech era, there was one glaring positive amid the struggles. More and more people realized just how important Adam Pelech is.
Essentially overseeing a fangroup of over 1,000 members, I took the opportunity to create something. With almost 150 messages from the Posse, I put together a get well card for Pelech and sent it to his home. After days of cutting and gluing, he received it with much appreciation. From that moment on, I realized I possessed something special.
While the world shut down due to Covid-19, the Pelech Posse soared to new heights. As we accumulated 2,000 members, I debuted merchandise, featuring two designs which nearly 100 Islanders fans own, including Pelech and his family. I took advantage of the excess time to create and obtain more content, including a video of Islanders play-by-play commentator Brendan Burke addressing the Posse and Ryan Pulock saying he holds membership to the group.
Upon the announcement that playoffs would commence on August 1st, the question of whether Pelech would play littered Islanders social media. The excitement was palpable the moment General Manager Lou Lamoriello declared Pelech would be available. Suddenly, the Islanders had a chance. The team that had lost their last seven games going into the pause disintegrated, while the team that had won 10 games straight had returned. With a healthy squad and a blueline patrolled by number three, the Islanders proved people wrong and ventured all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
While Pelech terrorized the top forwards he played against, the Pelech Posse was taking over Islanders social media. A beautiful birthday assist for Pelech, as well as his first career playoff goal were highlights of an incredible postseason. The latter brought a combined 250 direct messages and comments on my page. The Islanders social media themselves acknowledged the Posse, posting a picture of us at a public event. Every post about Pelech featured tons of “#PelechPosse” comments, some even reaching the hundreds.
However, it wasn’t all positives. After the announcement of another injury for Pelech, this time a broken wrist, the Islanders were eliminated in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Once again, the Pelech Posse came together. This time, it was a massive get well poster, covered with 230 messages of both wishes of health and gratitude, that the newly-engaged Pelech will receive soon. Although a disappointing conclusion for both the team and Pelech, the Posse was able to express their appreciation for their favorite player.
As I look to the future, I’m filled with gratitude. I’m grateful to be part of this tight-knit, passionate fanbase, which has taken so quickly to what I’ve been trying to build. As we continue to grow, I hope to see the Pelech Posse take over not only social media, but the Nassau Coliseum, and ultimately UBS Arena at Belmont Park. My optimism is limitless, and my passion, much like the Pelech Poke, is unstoppable.
