On September 4 in Rangers history: Richter retires

What happened on September 4 in the history of the New York Rangers

September 4 is a sad day in New York Rangers history as it marks the day that one of the greatest goalies in franchise history decided to hang up his skates.  It was in 2003, after suffering two concussions in eight months, Mike Richter formally announced that he was retiring.

Richter was 36 years old, about to turn 37 later in the month and he desperately wanted to keep playing, but he was coming off a season when he played only 13 games.  He had suffered the last concussion on November 5 when he was accidentally kneed in the head by Todd Marchant in a game against the Edmonton Oilers.   His first concussion had come at the end of the prior season when he was hit in the head by a Chris Tamer shot that left him concussed and with a fractured skull.

At a Madison Square Garden press conference, Richter fought through tears, saying  ”It’s a bit of a confusing day for me.  I feel great sadness, because I have to give up something I truly love.”  He then paused and, choking up, said “I’m in denial.”

The Ranger goalie had come back from two major knee surgeries and was hoping to return, but after consulting with neurologists, he realized that there was no other option but to quit.

Richter retired as the winningest goalie in franchise history with a 301-258-73 record. He was also first in shots faced, saves and minutes played (since the NHL started keeping those records) and he was fourth all time in shutouts with 24. The Rangers immediately announced that his number 35 would be retired in a ceremony on February 4.

While he never won a Vezina Trophy he did lead Team USA to victory at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey as the tournament MVP and he played for the United States at the Olympic Games.  Drafted out of the University of Wisconsin, the award to the best NCAA goalie is now named the Mike Richter Award.

But it was that magical 1993-94 season that is the highlight of his career.  His save on Pavel Bure’s penalty shot in the Stanley Cup Final saved the Rangers’ season.  He bested Martin Brodeur in an epic seven-game Conference Finals.  For his efforts that season alone he will be remembered as the best clutch goalie in franchise history.

The only distinction that eludes Richter is induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, an honor that is long overdue.

Rangers scratched as Canada comes back

The second game of the Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union was played in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens and the Canadians came away with a 4-1 victory, revenge for their humiliating loss two days earlier in Montreal. They did it without most of the New York Rangers on the team as coach Harry Sinden and assistant coach John Ferguson drastically revamped the lineup and their playing style to counter the Soviets. Seven players from the first game did not suit up for the rematch.

The entire GAG line of Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield was scratched for the game and Brad Park was the only Ranger who saw action.  Hadfield was particularly upset about being scratched as he was from the Toronto area.

Brad Park did play a key role in the win.  Phil Esposito scored on a rebound of a Park shot to put Canada up 1-0 and the Ranger defender also assisted on Canada’s second goal.

The highlight of the game was a spectacular shorthanded goal by Pete Mahovlich less than a minute after the Soviets had scored to make the score 2-1.

Today’s birthdays

22 NHL players were born on this date including three former Rangers.

John Vanbiesbrouck was born on September 4, 1963 in Detroit, Michigan. Drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, he made his debut in goal  in December 1981 at age 18 in a 2-1 win in Colorado against the Rockies.  He was still in junior hockey, playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and was an emergency call up by the Rangers.  He didn’t make the team for good until the 1984-85 season.  Known as “Beezer,” he played nine full seasons in New York, eventually sharing duties with Mike Richter.  Able to protect only one goalie in the 1983 expansion draft, the Rangers traded him to Vancouver and he was drafted by the Florida Panthers. He led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in four games.  He played 882 games for five different teams (including all three Metropolitan Area teams) and won the Vezina Trophy with the Blueshirts in 1985-86.  Of all U.S. born goalies, he has played the most games, is second in wins (374) and is fourth in shutouts (40).

Tomas Sandström was born on this date in 1964 in Jakobstad, Finland.  Though born in Finland he was raised in Sweden.  A second round pick in the 1982 Entry Draft by the Rangers, Sandström was a high scoring right winger who played six seasons with the Rangers, scoring 173 goals in 407 games, along with 380 points.  He was packaged along with Tony Granato in the 1990 trade for Bernie Nicholls.   Sandstrom played 15 years in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1997.

Sergio Momesso was born on this date in 1965 in Montreal, Quebec.  A hard hitting left winger, he routinely topped the 100 penalty minute mark in a 13 year NHL career. He came to the Rangers in a trade from Toronto for Wayne Presley and in parts of two season, played 28 games in New York. He picked up 41 minutes in penalties in those 28 games, scoring four goals before he was traded to the Blues in 1996 as the Rangers reacquired Brian Noonan.