The New York State Hockey Hall of Fame is inducting its Class of 2026 on Sunday, July 12th, in Troy, NY. The Hall’s fifth-ever class is as star-studded as it comes, mixing former Rangers and Islanders with media personalities, executives and high school and college standouts from all over The State. 

Nick Fotiu, who many will remember as an enforcer/protector on the Rangers in the ‘70s and ‘80s, is going into The Hall as part of the class. So, as a preview for this summer’s ceremony, Blittner’s Blue Line has caught up with Fotiu, as well as several of his fellow inductees, to get their thoughts on the honor. 

*Editor’s Note: Questions and Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Question: What was your immediate reaction when Hall Founder, Rene LeRoux, called to tell you that you were selected for induction?

Fotiu: “I thought it was nice. I played with a lot of great players and I thought it was a nice compliment to my career.”

Question: Had you ever heard of The New York State Hockey Hall of Fame before that phone call?

Fotiu: “I’ve heard of it. I know a lot of people (who have) been inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Question: You’ve already been inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame, so how does this new honor rank compared to that, for you?

Fotiu: “I was the first one (for the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame), so it was a great honor.”

Question: To hear yourself be called a Hall of Famer, was that something that, during your career, you ever thought would be possible once your playing days were over?

Fotiu: “For me, I have a great honor. I’m the first New Yorker ever to play for the New York Rangers. So nobody could break my record. That’s an honor in itself. All the years, a hundred years, of the New York Rangers and I’m the first one. So that’s a great honor. I was the most popular Ranger, voted twice. 

“I do a lot of things with the New York City Detectives. I was just honored by the Commissioner of New York. So, basically, I’m not only from Staten Island, I’m from New York City. My grandmother, my grandfather, they’re from Greenwich Village. I was brought up in The Village and Staten Island. So it’s a great honor. Anytime you’re honored, it’s great.”

Question: What is your favorite place to go to in New York City?

Fotiu: “Arturo’s (Coal Oven Pizza) on Thompson Street and (West) Houston Street.”

Question: Any particular reason for choosing Arturo’s? What’s your go-to order there?

Fotiu: “When I was a little kid, I used to go to the restaurant and it’s still there. It’s there 60-something years. I order probably a little of everything. I order Chicken Parmesan, Eggplant Parmesan. I order special macaroni from Faicco’s down the street. Faicco’s supplies Arturo’s with spaghetti, sauce, so it’s really good.”

Question: As a “True Blue New Yorker,” what was it like being able to play for the Rangers and live at home?

Fotiu: “I used to sleep outside and inside Madison Square Garden when I was 16 years old, waiting for playoff tickets. So, for me to get to play in Madison Square Garden, it’s my Cathedral. G-d told me I was gonna play for the New York Rangers. 

“You don’t start playing hockey at 16 years old and make it unless you have somebody upstairs helping you. I know I traveled a lot. I had a lot of hours on the subway, on the New York City transit (system). That’s how I got around. The ferry, the subway, the bus, everything.”

Question: Speaking of your travels, is it true that you used to carry something for your protection when riding the subway before and during your playing days?

Fotiu: “I used to carry. Of course I did. You didn’t travel the New York City transit system, from Staten Island to Coney Island and from Staten Island to New Hyde Park. I used to carry a hatchet on top of my hockey bag. I’m traveling at three o’clock in the morning, one o’clock in the morning, five o’clock in the morning, seven o’clock in the morning; all hours of the night. 

“I was by myself. So I had to protect myself. And not only did I protect myself, (but) I (also) protected other people who traveled. I always grew up protecting people, my friends, my teammates, people I don’t even know. That was my life.”

Question: Speaking of protection, you also protected your teammates on the ice, notably from the likes of Dave Schultz. What were those clashes like?

Fotiu: “If I was playing the game today, I would be doing the same thing. In his last year that he played, I protected Gordie Howe, Mark Howe and Marty Howe. That was my role. I didn’t really like to fight. I just liked to help people and protect people.”

Question: If you didn’t like fighting, why did you choose to fill that role?

Fotiu: “I chose it because nobody else could do it.”

Question: But if you didn’t like fighting, then why did you do Golden Gloves Boxing?

Fotiu: “Well, boxing is an art. I always liked boxing. I didn’t like people who bullied people. When you box, the guy next to you is boxing too. I mean, when you are playing hockey, the guy hits a guy with a stick or cheap shots him, that’s why I protected them. You can’t talk about boxing and hockey. It was different. You never had a guy cheap-shot you in boxing. You know what you’re getting into. But when you play hockey, you don’t know. You know you might fight, but it’s not ‘when am I gonna fight?’ It’s when is this gonna happen? But, in boxing, it’s right there.”

Question: Moving away from hockey for a minute, tell us about The Nick Fotiu Foundation?

Fotiu: “It’s not only about having a foundation. It’s to help people when you don’t have a foundation. I don’t like to ask people for money. I do charity events and if they want to pay me or put it in the foundation, that’s fine. But I was doing this my whole career, helping people. Doing appearances, going to schools and not even getting paid for it. Just go and do it. And I still do. I have an ice cream truck coming on June 8th to P.S. 226 in The Bronx. 

“These kids didn’t know anything about hockey. This is what I give my time, my foundation, whatever. We give them ice cream, products, drinks, everything. These kids don’t have anything. Teaching them the game of hockey, I’ve been doing it now for like, five years. These people, these kids, when they see it, they come running and hug you. They don’t have anything. I bring them to Madison Square Garden, five kids, probably in six different games. They get t-shirts. It’s never-ending.”

Nick Fotiu, a true protector through and through and now a New York State Hockey Hall of Famer. We’ll have more interviews with his fellow inductees in the days and weeks to come.