Long Island's Ryan Franks, Tanner Adams and Michael Hagens skate at Islanders development camp
Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
Roslyn’s Ryan Franks was skating at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow where he grew up playing, but this time in an Islanders’ practice jersey and with the team’s fans in the stands as one of three Long Islanders, along with Northport’s Tanner Adams and Hauppauge’s Michael Hagens, participating in the organization’s development camp.
“It means absolutely everything to me,” Franks told Newsday after his group skated during the first day of on-ice sessions. “I love this place more than anything. These are where my roots are and it’s where I grew up. I love everybody on this Island. Just being here right now, it’s super surreal. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Franks has long played against Adams and Hagens, best friends and teammates since they were 4 years old and who worked in Monday’s other group, in Long Island youth games. But he just started to get know them better the past couple of weeks in preparation for the camp, which runs through Thursday.
The long-range hope is to get the Islanders — or another NHL team — to offer a contract. The 6-4, 210-pound Franks, 20, spent most of last season with Maryland of the North American Hockey League while the 5-11, 184-pound Adams, 20, and the 5-11, 170-pound Hagens, 21, are Hockey East rivals for Providence and Boston College, respectively.
Their fathers both coached them while they played for the Long Island Royals and Hagens’ younger brother, James, was picked seventh overall by the Bruins in the 2025 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut late last season.
“I’m just hoping to showcase what I’ve got,” Michael Hagens told Newsday. “Get better every day and see where that takes me down the road. I think [James Hagens being drafted] helps me. It’s even more of a proof that it’s right there.”
Hagens, a left-shooting defenseman, sat one dressing room stall away from Adams, a right-shooting forward, and called it “super special” to be sharing the experience with his close friend.
“Great buddies,” Hagens said. “We got to grow up together and go through our hockey careers together and everything off the ice. I’m sure years down the road, we’ll be talking about this.”
“It’s surreal,” Adams told Newsday. “Growing up an Islanders fan, going to games at Nassau Coliseum and even Barclays and UBS and also just training here. It’s a surreal moment for me to be able to come to this camp and work my butt off trying to make the team.”
Adams had 11 goals and 13 assists as a junior for Providence. Hagens had five assists in 33 games as a Boston College sophomore.
“We both played on the Long Island Royals for a good amount of years and our fathers were the two on the bench, barking at us,” Hagens said. “Those are the best times, driving up to hockey tournaments together or messing around in the back of the car and causing a whole bunch of ruckus.”
Franks, who notched 31 goals and 28 assists in 43 games for Maryland after also playing five games for Youngstown (USHL), is a left-shooting forward who described himself as physical and good in transition.
“Every path is different,” said Franks, who will transition from junior hockey to college this season at Canisius. “I just stuck to my guns and I’ve trusted the right people. I’ve always been a big believer of if you’re a good player, people will find you and I just happened to get found by the New York Islanders.”
He recalled first skating at the East Meadow facility when it was still called Twin Rinks, but noted development camp was the first time he had been in the Islanders’ area, including the workout room.
“I grew up a Long Island Gull and, back then, the Gulls used to skate at Northwell,” Franks said. “I’ve got a lot of people here that are supporting me. I know the Islanders supporting me, for sure. I’m hoping to keep pushing [Long Island] out there, making sure Long Island gets the recognition it deserves.”
There will be a development camp scrimmage open to the public on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Notes & quotes: The Islanders tendered qualifying offers to restricted free agents Alex Jeffries and Joey Larson, both forwards, and goalie Henrik Tikkanen. The non-tendered RFAs who now become unrestricted free agents are forwards Marc Gatcomb and Max Shabanov, both who played for the Islanders, Ruslan Iskhakov, Eetu Liukas, Matt Maggio and Cam Thiesing and goalie Tristan Lennox.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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