April 8, 1971: The Night Vic Hadfield Nearly Broke the PIM Record

Perhaps Jim Harrison said something about Vic Hadfield’s golf game. On April 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden played host to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup quarter-finals between the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Rangers were up 1-0 in the series, but Toronto fought back with a 4-1 victory and then things got really interesting.

After the goals came the gloves. Vic Hadfield piled up 34 penalty minutes before the night was over, at the time, the fourth-most in a single Stanley Cup playoff game (It still ranks among the top dozen today).

The all-time record of 42 minutes, held by Billy Coutu since 1923, is a bit of an outlier thanks to long-gone rules and two hefty misconducts. In the modern era, Hadfield was chasing Forbes Kennedy’s 38 minutes and John Ferguson’s 37, both set in 1969.

Hadfield’s trouble started midway through the second period. At 9:22, he tangled with Toronto’s Jim Harrison and earned an extra two minutes for high-sticking, his second trip to the box after a roughing call earlier. Then at 15:18 of the third, they went at it again, sparking a full-on melee that also pulled in Darryl Sittler and Brad Park. Hadfield picked up two ten-minute misconducts and a five for fighting, ending his night early.

Moments later, Park joined him in the dressing room when both he and Sittler were assessed game misconducts. Each finished with 27 penalty minutes.

On the scoresheet side of things, Toronto’s Paul Henderson led the way with two goals, while Dave Keon added a goal and an assist. Tim Horton scored the lone Rangers goal against his former team.

About Vic Hadfield

Vic Hadfield played 1,002 regular season and 74 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1961-62 and 1976-77 with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1971-72, he became the first player in Rangers history to score 50 goals in a season with exactly 50.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Vic Hadfield

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Vic Hadfield spent the majority of his NHL career with which team?

Chicago Blackhawks
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Boston Bruins

2. Hadfield was part of the Rangers’ famous “GAG Line.” What did “GAG” stand for?

Goal-A-Game
Great and Gritty
Goaltenders Always Guessing
Grind-And-Goal

3. In the 1971–72 season, Vic Hadfield became the first Rangers player to reach what major milestone?

50 goals in a season
100 career power play goals
1,000 career points
10 hat tricks in one season

4. After leaving the Rangers, Hadfield finished his NHL career playing for which team?

Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

5. Which best describes Vic Hadfield’s playing style?

Defensive specialist and shot blocker
Tough, skilled power forward with scoring touch
Pure finesse playmaker
Enforcer with limited offensive output

Bill Clement Leads Atlanta Flames Past Rangers on New Year’s Eve 1976

On December 31, 1976, the Atlanta Flames rang in the New Year in style at Madison Square Garden with a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers.

The night belonged to Bill Clement, who had a hand in three of the four Flames goals. After a scoreless first period, the Rangers opened the scoring early in the second when Wayne Dillon beat Phil Myre just 59 seconds in. But Clement responded midway through the frame, scoring a shorthanded goal while Bobby Simpson was in the penalty box.

The Rangers regained the lead early in the third on a Mike McEwen marker, but the Flames stormed back with three unanswered goals. Bobby Simpson, Tom Lysiak, and Ken Houston all found the back of the net, with Clement assisting on the Simpson and Houston tallies. Tim Ecclestone added three assists of his own to match Clement’s three-point performance.

The Flames fired 45 shots on Gilles Gratton, with Guy Chouinard leading the way with eight and Lysiak adding seven. On the Rangers’ side, Phil Esposito had a frustrating night with seven shots, no points, and a -2 rating. In the final seconds, tempers flared as Esposito and Pat Quinn nearly tangled, resulting in roughing penalties.

About Bill Clement

Bill Clement played 719 regular season and 50 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1971-72 and 1981-82 with the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames. He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Flyers.

Clement was a second round pick by the Flyers at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft after three years of junior with the Ottawa 67's. Despite being a defensive forward, Bill stands as eighth overall in total points with the Atlanta Flames.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bill Clement

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Bill Clement was originally drafted by which NHL team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Atlanta Flames
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers

2. Clement won two Stanley Cups early in his career. In which seasons did he capture them with the Flyers?

1972 & 1973
1973 & 1974
1974 & 1975
1975 & 1976

3. Bill Clement was part of a major trade that sent him from the Flyers to the Washington Capitals in 1975. Which future Hall of Famer went the other way?

Bernie Parent
Mel Bridgman
Bill Barber
Bill Clement was traded for the draft pick that became Mel Bridgman

4. Clement enjoyed his most productive offensive seasons with which team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Atlanta Flames
Colorado Rockies

5. After retiring from the NHL, Clement became well known as:

An NHL coach
A broadcaster and analyst
An NHL referee
A players’ agent

NHL Hockey Trivia: New York Rangers

The New York Rangers entered the National Hockey League for the 1926-27 season, a year after their roommates, the New York Americans, joined the league. It took the Rangers just two seasons before they were hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Test and expand your hockey trivia knowledge of the New York Rangers with these four trivia questions.

Q. What venue was the first home of the New York Rangers?

A. The New York Rangers arena has always been Madison Square Garden. However, it was the third incarnation of MSG that the Rangers first called home. The New York Americans also played home games out of the same venue. They played in MSG III until 1968 when they moved into their present home, MSG IV, which, of course, has just recently undergone renovations.

Q. From 1930’s to 1950’s, what was the New York Rangers farm team that also played out of Madison Square Garden?

A. The New York Rovers were the New York Rangers farm team playing in the Eastern Hockey League and later the Quebec Senior Hockey League. The team had some famous Rangers behind the bench as head coach, including Frank Nighbor and Frank Boucher. Many great Rangers players also played for the Rovers at one time or another. The roster of all-time greats includes outstanding goaltenders like Gump Worsley, Ed Giacomin, Al Rollins and Gilles Villemure.

Q. Who wore the number 7 that was the first of nine New York Rangers retired numbers to be hang from the rafters at MSG?

A. Despite the long history of the Rangers, Rod Gilbert’s number 7 was the first to be retired by the team and it wasn’t until 1979. Gilbert played 1,065 regular season NHL games between 1960-61 and 1977-78, all in a Rangers jersey. Rod was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982. He was an integral part of the 1972 Summit Series that pitted Team Canada against Russia.

Gilbert stands as the New York Rangers all-time leader in goals and points. Over his 1,065 games with the club, Rod scored 406 goals and totalled 1,021 points.

Q. What is the song that is played after every New York Rangers goal when they play at Madison Square Garden?

A. The song is called ‘Slapshot’ and was written by Madison Square Garden Music Director, Ray Castoldi. The song has been played after ever Rangers goal since 1995. It is also the goal song of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers.