Maven's Memories Presents Stan's Fans: Jake April

During my half-century of covering the Islanders in print and electronically, I've been fortunate to encounter fans and their families with extraordinary stories to tell.
This one -- about Dr. Max April and his son Jake -- ranks among my favorites because it explains how the Islanders impacted their lives in such a powerful way and with amazing results.
But, most importantly, it's all about a young fellow's love affair with the hockey team and how it helped Jake deal with the challenges of Cerebral Palsy.

The saga begins in 1996 when Jake was born and his parents, Max April and Pamela April were confronted with a stunning prognosis.
"Jake was born weighing only one pound, 13 ounces," Dr. April revealed. "He had to remain in the hospital for more than four months. The diagnosis was Cerebral Palsy and right-sided weakness."
Pamela and Max knew from the get-go that raising Jake would present a challenge that would be daunting and possibly depressing as well.
"We were up for it," said Pamela, "and understood that many forms of therapies would be involved. Jake had difficulties with both speech and ambulation."
And that's where the Islanders entered the picture.
Max: "Despite the many challenges confronting him, Jake was interested in many sports but his favorite team, early on, clearly was the Islanders."
At the time, what mother and father couldn't have imagined was the role that Jake's favorite team would play in helping their son.
The turning point was the Aprils purchasing Islanders season tickets in 2001. That campaign happened to also mark my first encounter with Jake outside the Islanders dressing room after a game.
Years later the thought of that encounter would remind me how far Jake had come in his physical and mental development, but that night Jake was wheelchair-bound and while he was able to converse with me, his speech was noticeably impaired. Frankly, I had difficulty understanding much of what he was trying to articulate.
In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined the immense strides he would make both as a student and in his physical advancement.
"Jake was able to enjoy the Isles playoff years with Michael Peca and Alexei Yashin," Max recalled, "and, like the rest of us, he handled the lean years like a trooper."
"He got a real thrill meeting (goalie) Rick DiPietro who signed a game action photo, 'From One Lefty To Another.' A big favorite was the 2015 playoff against Washington. Jake will never forget the win in Game Six with The Barn really rocking!"
As Jake and I met more and more over the seasons, what I noticed was how father and son were so determined for Jake to get on track. Admittedly, I was skeptical but the more we were in touch, the more I was heartened.
Pamela April: "Jake went mainstream at the East Williston School District and later transferred to the Summit School in Jamaica Estates. Meanwhile his interest in the hockey team grew more and more intense."
Then, there was a most astonishing development.
"In my senior year of high school," Jake remembered, "the Islanders accepted me for an internship. I couldn't believe it but there I was working in (GM) Garth Snow's office."
"I was there for the 2015 Entry Draft when we claimed Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvilier. And right after that I got accepted at Mitchel College in New London, Connecticut."
This was a pivotal advance in Jake's move toward maturity. Now he would be away from home and on his own for the first time in his young life.
Undaunted -- and with the Islanders on his mind -- Jake launched a sports radio show at Mitchell Radio that often spotlighted hockey talk. It was called "Jake's RANTdition."
Jake: "Since my college was in Connecticut I had the opportunity to go with my friends to watch the Isles farm team in Bridgeport. I checked out all our prospects."
That also was the season that I suggested to my MSG Networks bosses that Shannon Hogan and I try out a between periods segment called STAN'S FANS.

For the second program I suggested to Shannon that we invite Jake as our guest. Frankly, I soon suffered second thoughts about it; mostly because I was concerned about the possibility of Jake "freezing" on camera.
But Jake was as cool as a 10-year pro and the interview went very smoothly without a single hiccup. I was thoroughly impressed with Jake's poise and articulation.
Jake said, "I had my undergraduate degree and got accepted for a Master's course in sports journalism. My confidence had grown."
Then, when he told me that he'd also be working at WRHU Hofstra Radio, I was so proud I was bustin' my vest. And when he told me about a casual encounter with the Islanders, I was even happier.
Turns out he had met a few of the Islanders at the apartment complex where the family lives.
"Quite a while later," Jake remembered, "I was down at the pool and a few of the Islanders were there. All of a sudden J.G. Pageau sees me; excuses himself from the other guys, comes over and gives me a big 'Hello, how are ya? I couldn't believe it. Great guy. Great moment. Then he invited me over to schmooze with the guys about hockey and life. It made me so happy to be an Islanders fan."
Of course, the saga of Jake's development continues unabated. Now, at age 26, he is carrying on like any young adult.
At this point in time it's impossible to quantify the positive effect the Islanders have had on Jake's development into a mature adult.
But, to put it mildly the effect has been far beyond my expectations when I first met the young, wheelchair-bound Jake April so many years ago.
Perhaps the best way to crystalize the Islanders positive impact on Jake is to let his extremely proud father do the talking:
Max April: "Jake's affinity for the Islanders has given him structure and a feeling of commitment and belonging to something greater than his challenges. It put him on the same playing field as everyone else, abled and disabled."
"That's what everyone strives for and it is especially true of Jake who may physically be out of place -- but mentally and emotionally is connected.
"Even though he couldn't participate in sports, he found an area to excel; a community to be a part of and that's thanks to the kindness of management and the Islanders players!"