WWII vet, 104, thrills Rangers-Islanders crowd with national anthem on saxophone as fans unite for ‘USA’ chants

While the Islanders blanked the Rangers on Saturday night, the real highlight came before the game, when 104-year-old Dominick Critelli, a World War II veteran, performed the national anthem on his saxophone prior to the game at UBS Arena.

Critelli, a Staff Sergeant in the Army who was born in 1921, hit every note of the anthem on Saturday, with the Long Island crowd chanting “USA” as he was led onto the ice in an Islanders jersey emblazoned with 104 on it, and again when he finished the flawless version of the song.

He saluted the enthusiastic crowd after he wrapped up the song with a flourish.

Leading up to the game, Critelli — who was in combat for 151 days during the war and survived both the Battle of the Bulge and the landing on Normandy — told The Post, “I love this country. If I hadn’t come home to this country, I’d be stuck with Mussolini.”

During the war, Critelli flew into enemy territory and provided American troops with supplies.

Critelli, who lives in Floral Park, emigrated to the US after being born in Italy.

He received three Bronze Stars for his service.

Critelli was also recently knighted by French President Emmanuel Macron for helping liberate the nation.

“He pins a medal on me, kisses me on both cheeks,” Critelli said of the honor. “And I ask, ‘If I’m a knight, where’s my sword and horse?’”

Critelli earned a music degree from NYU and became a jazz saxophonist and although Saturday’s performance was significant, it wasn’t the largest crowd he’d ever performed before, as he noted he also played it on a tank while freeing the Netherlands from Nazi rule, surrounded by “50,000, 60,000 people.”