New York Rangers History
The Rangers, one of the "Original Six" NHL teams, were founded in 1926 by Tex Rickard. According to legend, the New York media nicknamed the team "Tex's Rangers," a play on the famed law enforcers Texas Rangers.
The team has won four Stanley Cup Championships, the first of which came in only their second season (1928) and the most recent in 1994, beating Vancouver in Game 7 to break a 54-year drought and send Cup-starved fans into a frenzy.
The Rangers' 2017-2018 campaign broke a string of seven consecutive seasons in which the team reached the Playoffs -- including the 2013-2014 campaign, which ended in a five-game series loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final.
Among the Hall of Famers to don the Rangers sweater are Andy Bathgate, Eric Lindros, Phil Esposito, and Wayne Gretzky. Nine players have had their number retired by the team: Bathgate, Ed Giacomin, Rod Gilbert, Adam Graves, Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Mark Messier, Jean Ratelle, and Mike Richter. Herb Brooks (1937-2003), who coached the Rangers from 1981-1985, also coached the U.S. Olympic hockey team to its "Miracle on Ice" victory over the Soviet Union and on to a gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.
New York Rangers Team Info
Conference: Eastern
Division: Metropolitan
Year Founded: 1926
Team Colors: White, Red, Blue
Team Rivals: New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden
Located in the heart of Manhattan and named for President James Madison, Madison Square Garden opened in 1968 and is among the most-booked venues in the world. The arena, which sits atop Penn Station, is the oldest venue in the NHL. Considered "the world's most famous arena," MSG is also the home court for the New York Knicks.