On September 6 in Rangers history: Ratelle back into the Summit Series

What happened on September 6 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1972, Canada and the Soviet Union played game three of the Summit Series.  It ended in a 4-4 tie in front of a sold out crowd in Winnipeg.  New York Rangers fans were happy to see Jean Ratelle back in the lineup, but he played without his linemates, Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield.

Ratelle justified his return to the lineup, scoring Canada’s second goal to give them a 2-1 lead in the first period.  The Ranger center scored at 18:25 of the first period on a give-and-go from Yvon Cournoyer.   Canada blew two goal leads twice in the game and barely hung on for the tie.  The lack of conditioning for the Canadian players showed in the scoreless third period and most observers thought that they were lucky to escape with a tie.

Ironically, one of the spectators in the Winnipeg arena was Bobby Hull who should have been on the Canadian team, but was not allowed to participate as he had just signed with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.

The tie meant that after three games, Canada’s record was 1-1-1, a record that most hockey fans saw as a total letdown by Team Canada.  As for New York Rangers on the team,  Ratelle and Brad Park were the two who played in the game, with Rod Seiling, Hadfield and Gilbert scratched.

Today’s birthdays

15 NHL players have been born on September 6 with one former Ranger, a Calder Trophy winner, in that group.

Kilby MacDonald was born on this date in 1914 in Ottawa, Ontario.  He was a left winger who played four seasons in New York for the Rangers, the only four years he played in the NHL.  His play in the minor leagues led to his promotion to the Rangers in 1939-40.  That was his best year in the NHL as he won the Calder Trophy as best rookie, scoring 15 goals and 28 points in 45 games as a 25-year-old.  He was a Stanley Cup champion with the Rangers in 1940, but never lived up to that season and during WWII he was in the Canadian Army.  After two years in the service, he returned to the Rangers for two more seasons.  While not a household name in Rangers’ lore, he was the first Blueshirt to be honored as the league’s top rookie.