Doomed to one game obscurity

One-game wonders

12 goaltenders have played in only one regular season game for the Rangers.  Five of them lost their one game and six had no decisions.  The only goalie to win his only appearance in a Ranger uniform was Bert Gardiner who won his only decision in 1935-36.  it was the only game Ranger goalie Dave Kerr did not play in six seasons.

Gardiner actually returned to  play six playoff games for the Rangers in the 1938-39 Stanley Cup playoffs, replacing the injured Kerr.

47 skaters have suited up for one game as a New York Ranger. Only one player scored in his only game as a Blueshirt.  Signed as a free agent, Doug Wickenheiser played just one game on October 8, 1988 and scored an empty net goal. He was subsequently scratched and sent to the minors and then released. He was signed by the Washington Capitals.

Wickenheiser was known as one of the biggest draft busts in NHL history.  He was the first pick overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1980 and although he played parts of 10 seasons in the NHL, he never lived up to the promise as the top pick.

Why would a player who scored in his only game never play again?  Those were tumultuous times for the Rangers with GM Phil Esposito making trades seemingly every day and warring with coach Michel Bergeron.  This was the season that Guy Lafleur made his return to the NHL and 44 different players suited up for the team.  At any rate, Wickenheiser was banished to the Rangers AHL team in Flint.

Seven of the 47 skaters did notch one assist is their only game with the Blueshirts.  For what it’s worth, here is the list of immortals: Bill Carse (1938-39), Bill Allum (1940-41),  Jim Jamieson (1943-44), Huddy Bell (1946-47), Ray Manson (1948-49), Al Staley (1948-49) and Ivan Baranka (2007-08).

One player worth noting was Larry Kwong, who played in one shift in one game in 1948.  As a Chinese-Canadian, he has the distinction of breaking the color barrier as the first minority to play in the NHL.  You can read more about Kwong in a story we published when he passed away.

Finally, while most of the one-game wonders rightfully had brief professional careers, one player had a long career and played a role in the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship.   Winger Todd Marchant was promoted from the AHL and played one game on February 18  for the Rangers, held scoreless in a 7-3 loss to the Blackhawks.  Five days later he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Craig MacTavish.

We all know the role that MacTavish played in the Stanley  Cup victory, winning probably the most famous faceoff in franchise history.

As for Marchant, he went on to play 1,194 more games in the NHL for four other teams, scoring 186 goals and 498 total points. MacTavish played  all of 12 regular season and 23 playoff games for the Rangers before departing as a free agent.

That’s it for a recap of players how have played one game for the Broadway Blueshirts.   We’ll keep looking for more obscure subjects to write about as we live through this period without hockey.