EXCLUSIVE: Former LI Goalie Coach Chris Testa on Brandon Bussi’s Journey, Long Island Roots & NHL Dream Becoming Reality
Long Island goalie coach Chris Testa reflects on mentoring Brandon Bussi through adversity, development, and the call-up that made their shared dream real.
On Saturday, New York Islanders fans got to see Long Island native Marshall Warren live out his dream, making his debut for his childhood team.
Tonight, things will be a little different in Raleigh, as another Long Islander will hit the ice when Sound Beach, Long Island native Brandon Bussi mans the crease for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bussi did grow up a New York Rangers fan — he didn’t hate the Islanders at all — but it’s still an incredibly cool thing to see another Long Islander get his moment.
For Bussi, his journey has been a long one, which makes it even sweeter to see that at 27, after years in the AHL, a stint in the ECHL, and waiver trips, he’s being given an opportunity.
Through his first three career starts, he’s 2-1-0, with a 2.33 GAA and a .911 SV%.
I caught up with his old Long Island goalie coach, my former goalie coach Chris Testa, to discuss Bussi’s development, the challenges along the way, and what it means to see a Long Island kid find his way to the top.
Chris Testa of Massapequa played college hockey at UMass Boston and spent time in the professional ranks, including the Federal Hockey League, before transitioning into coaching. After retiring from playing, he became a prominent goalie instructor on Long Island, working with the Long Island Gulls and Arrows as well as at Stony Brook University, while also running his own training program, Netminders Elite Goaltending. Known for developing and mentoring goalies at all levels, Testa has become a respected figure in the Long Island hockey community, helping guide players through the same grassroots path he once took — including current NHL goaltender Brandon Bussi.