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.
