What happened on October 15 in the history of the New York Rangers
On this date in 1955 something happened at the Montreal Forum that had never happened before. The Rangers lost 4-1, something that definitely had happened before. Maurice “The Rocket” Richard scored twice and that had also definitely happened before. What was new was that Maurice’s little brother, Henri, also scored, his first NHL goal. It came in Henri Richard’s fourth NHL game and this was the first time the Richard brothers scored in the same game. The brothers scored in the same game nine times in that season.
Maurice Richard had made his NHL debut in 1942-43 and shocked the hockey world by scoring 50 goals in 50 games in 1944-45. He was 34-years old, a Hart Trophy winner and perennial All-Star when 19-year old Henri Richard made his debut. Maurice scored 115 goals and 205 points against the Rangers in 194 games, his second highest total after the 141 goals he scored against the Black Hawks.
Maurice and Henri were teammates for five seasons and they won the Stanley Cup all five years. Though Maurice retired in 1960, Henri continued his NHL career until November 1974. That was the first of 59 goals Henri Richard would score against the Rangers in 197 games.
Today’s birthdays
13 NHL players have been born on October 15 including three former and one current Ranger.
Julien Gauthier was born on this date in 1997 in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec. A first round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, the right winger was traded to New York in February 2020. He has bounced between Hartford and the Rangers and is currently on the Blueshirts roster.
Jean Pusie was a defenseman, born on this date in 1910 in Montreal, Quebec. He played 19 games in 1933-34 for the Blueshirts while also playing a handful of games with Montreal and Boston over four years. In a curiosity, he played three of five games in the Stanley Cup Final for the winning Canadiens, but his name was not engraved on the Stanley Cup. After leaving hockey, Pusie was also a professional wrestler. You have to wonder if his brief stop in New York was even briefer because the Blueshirts faithful quickly took up a “We want Pusie” chant whenever he was in the lineup.
Steve Buzinski was born on October 15, 1917 in Dunblane, Saskatchewan. A goalie, Buzinski played nine games for the Rangers in 1942-43, his only games in the NHL. He ended his big league career with a 2-6 record and a Goals Against Average of 5.89 as he allowed 55 goals. He is most famous for allowing the first goal ever scored by Maurice Richard on November 8, 1942. According to the Calgary Herald, Buzinski made a glove save on a shot labelled for the net and told teammate Ott Heller “Nothing to it Ott, it’s like picking apples off a tree.” He then allowed ten goals to the Habs.
Hank Ciesla was a center, born on this date in 1934 in St. Catharines, Ontario. He played two full seasons with the Rangers from 1957-59 scoring eight goals in 131 games. He also played two seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks.