Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine is partnering with the developers of a proposed $1 billion arena and convention center project in Ronkonkoma.

The former New York Islanders center is tasked with securing an American Hockey League team as the anchor tenant for the project’s 7,500-seat arena.

In addition, LaFontaine will also look to attract a women’s professional hockey team, women’s and men’s soccer teams, and an expansion soccer team in the newly formed USL League One to the proposed development, according to a statement from JLL, the master developer for the plan known as the Ronkonkoma Vision Project.

The $1-billion-plus development, planned for 86 acres of municipal property located between MacArthur Airport and the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station, is envisioned to include a 7,500-seat indoor arena for hockey, lacrosse and entertainment; a 6,000-seat outdoor soccer/lacrosse stadium; three outdoor community practice fields; a convention center; a 300-key convention hotel; retail space; and office space to house medical and research institutions.

The Suffolk County Legislature voted in June to approve a memorandum of agreement for redeveloping the site, now mostly used for commuter parking. The county, with input from the Town of Islip, had issued a request for qualifications in Oct. 2017 for redeveloping the property. Suffolk considered other proposals that included between 1,200 and 1,900 units of multifamily residences, office space, a hotel and conference center, and a 2 million-square-foot industrial park, but opted for the arena/convention center plan instead.

LaFontaine will continue to serve as a consultant with the National Hockey League as he assists the Ronkonkoma development team to create a complementary youth sports component for the project, including college and youth hockey, lacrosse, and academy soccer and youth tournaments.

“This project will create a central gathering point for youth and families throughout the Island,” LaFontaine said in the statement. “It will be a game changer for Long Island sports, serving community youth every day of the year.”

Bill Daly, deputy commissioner for the NHL, called LaFontaine “a tireless advocate for hockey” and youth sports.

“We know that Pat’s new role with the Ronkonkoma Vision Project will not only benefit the sport of hockey, but will also create extraordinary opportunities for Long Island youth,” Daly said in the statement.

Derek Trulson, vice chairman with JLL, said LaFontaine brings “extensive contacts and deep experience in hockey and youth sports” to the project’s development team.

“Pat will help us bring our vision to life, positioning the project as a sports, entertainment, convention and office destination for Suffolk County and beyond,” Trulson said.

JLL continues to finalize the particulars of the Ronkonkoma Vision Project development with partners Cameron Engineering & Associates and Crawford Architects. The development group plans to submit its final project proposal to Suffolk County by the end of May.

The Ronkonkoma development site includes about 40 acres of county-owned parking lot currently leased to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a 6-acre town-owned parcel just east of the parking lot and a 40-acre Islip-owned compost site south of Railroad Avenue.

Redevelopment of the property has been supported by the Ronkonkoma Civic Association which conducted a visioning of the site with the Regional Plan Association that began in 2016. The redevelopment on the south side of the LIRR station is aimed at complementing the ongoing Ronkonkoma Hub project, where Tritec Real Estate is bringing 1,450 residential units, 195,000 square feet of retail space and 360,000 square feet of office and commercial space to about 50 acres on the north side of the train station.