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New York Rangers: Born on the 4th of July

By Steve Paulus

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 17: Members of the United States Military hold a giant US flag on the ice during the singing of the national anthem prior to the start of a game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on November 17, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 17: Members of the United States Military hold a giant US flag on the ice during the singing of the national anthem prior to the start of a game between the Arizona Coyotes and the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on November 17, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It’s Independence Day and while we settle into our barbecues and toast the acquisition of Artemi Panarin, it is time for some New York Rangers trivia.

It’s a holiday in the United States and while it isn’t one in Canada, it’s probably a good bet that there won’t be any free agent signings and the New York Rangers won’t pull off that big trade to free up cap space.

The dog days of summer have officially begun and while expectations and speculation about the Blueshirts will be running rampant until training camp, we’ll be pursuing some more obscure topics at Blue Line Station.

So, it is appropriate to see which Rangers share the same birthdate of the country that they play in.  It’s not a long list.

Five birthday boys

Five former Rangers were born on Independence Day and only one was born in the United States.  Three were Canadian and one was from Finland.

The one American was center Vic Desjardins who was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on July 4, 1900.  Incidentally, Sault Ste. Marie, on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is as close to Canada as you can get. He played two season in the NHL, one with the Blueshirts in 1931-32, totaling six points.

The Finnish player was Juha Widing, who played for the Blueshirts in 1969-70.

Three Rangers hail from Ontario, including the most successful NHLer to be born on July 4th.  John Bednarski was a tough defenseman who played three seasons in New York (1974-77).

Steve Rucchin was a center who played one season with the Rangers (2005-06).  After ten years with Anaheim, he was traded to New York where he scored 13 goals and finished with 36 points.

The best NHL player born on the fourth of July played for the Rangers.  Mike Knuble was born in Toronto in 1972, He scored 15 goals for the Rangers in the 1998-99 season.  He played part of one more season in New York before being dealt to Boston.  Knuble retired having scored 278 goals and 548 points, the most for any July 4th baby.

The best known active player with a July 4th birthday is Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner, currently an unrestricted free agent looking for a new contract.

There is one Independence Day baby who played for the Rangers who is worth noting, but with an asterisk.

Canadian ice hockey player Rod Gilbert of the New York Rangers skates with the puck on the ice, October 1976. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Canadian ice hockey player Rod Gilbert of the New York Rangers skates with the puck on the ice, October 1976. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) /

An Independence Day birthday (with an asterisk)

One former Ranger great was born on Independence Day, but  it was on July 1, Canadian Independence Day.  That is the birth date of Rod Gilbert who can stake a claim to the title of greatest Ranger ever.  Although he retired over 40 years ago, he still holds the Ranger career records for goal, points, power play and game winning goals.  He is second all-time in assists, shots and hat tricks.

So, Happy Independence Day to all, especially Rod Gilbert.

Correction: The years Mike Knuble played for the Rangers were incorrectly listed in an earlier versions of this story.

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