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Remembering 9/11 and the New York Rangers

By Steve Paulus

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 07: New York Rangers' captain Mark Messier puts on the helment of Fire Department Chief of Special Operations Command Ray Downey at Madison Square Garden. FDNY team captain Larry McGee of Engine 66 presented Messier with the helmet in a ceremony before the Rangers played the Buffalo Sabres., (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 07: New York Rangers' captain Mark Messier puts on the helment of Fire Department Chief of Special Operations Command Ray Downey at Madison Square Garden. FDNY team captain Larry McGee of Engine 66 presented Messier with the helmet in a ceremony before the Rangers played the Buffalo Sabres., (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: New York Rangers visit FDNY firemen at Engine Co. 24 firehouse for the New York Rangers and Garden of Dreams 9/11 Road Tour on September 6, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: New York Rangers visit FDNY firemen at Engine Co. 24 firehouse for the New York Rangers and Garden of Dreams 9/11 Road Tour on September 6, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage) /

The September 11 attacks occurred just before the 2001 hockey season was to begin.   The New York Rangers played a part in helping the healing process for New York City.

18 years ago, the New York Rangers were preparing to report for their first day of training camp, a day for getting reacquainted and undergoing physicals.  In just hours the world changed and ice hockey became the last thing on the minds of New Yorkers.

The Rangers have never forgotten that awful day.  The organization makes sure that their young players are sure to visit the World Trade Center site so they have an understanding of what happened that day.   It’s important considering that most of the players were toddlers that day and some were even in diapers.

The New York Rangers were the first New York sports team to actually play a game after the attacks, a preseason game in Detroit.  They added the first sporting event played in New York City after September 11, a preseason game against the Devils on September 19 at Madison Square Garden.

The NHL delayed the start of the 2001-02 season and the Rangers’ home opener was moved to October 7.  That first home game at Madison Square Garden was an emotional one. Both the Sabres and Rangers wore special uniforms with “New York”  across their jerseys.   Prior to the game, in a ceremony to honor those lost, Mark Messier donned the fire helmet of Chief Ray Downey who died commanding the rescue efforts on September 11.  His remains were not recovered until eight months after the attacks.

Chief Downey was known to Messier and the Rangers as he played for the FDNY hockey team and was a lifelong Ranger fan.

Messier spoke to the crowd before the game and dedicated the season to New York City’s first responders.  He then went out and scored the team’s first goal in an overtime win over the Sabres.

Although the 2001-02 team failed to make the playoffs, they will be known  in New York City sports lore for the role that they played in the dark days after 9/11.  Messier and Mike Richter were among the first athletes to visit the World Trade Center site, a trip that has become a ritual for all team members since then.

It’s comforting to know that the team is doing its part to never forget.

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