As we approach the season's final stretch for the New York Rangers, we also get to the final run of games for Sam Rosen, the legendary play-by-play voice of the New York Rangers. One of the kindest people you could ever wish to meet, Rosen has been the play-by-play voice of the New York Rangers since the beginning of the 1984-85. He's the longest-tenured broadcaster in the NHL and the voice of the New York Rangers for many of the Blueshirts faithful.
Sam's story begins in Europe, just after the end of the Second World War, when he was born in Ulm, Germany, to Polish parents. His family moved to Brooklyn when he was two, where he became a New Yorker. He grew up loving the Yankees and Rangers, and the story goes he used to pretend to do play-by-play as a kid. He got pretty good at it, to the point where he caught the attention of some great people.
Jim Gordon, the great sports broadcaster of the 1900s, noticed Rosen's efforts and mentored him. Rosen learned his trade from a man who did the radio coverage for the Rangers and Knicks for many years until he eventually got the great honor of replacing the iconic play-by-play voice of New York City hockey (remember, the Islanders didn't for most of Gordon's career). Rosen took over and became his iconic voice.
Rosen's iconic calls
We're all familiar with his famous calls during the 1994 New York Rangers run to capture the Stanley Cup. The echos of Stephane Matteau's game-seven winners against the Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, or the famous call as the clock ticked down in the final game of the Stanley Cup Finals as the Rangers ended their 54-year drought without the Stanley Cup. Rangers' history became synonymous with Rosen's voice and remained the same for the next 30 years.
Thanks to Rosen, so many iconic moments have become part of the Rangers' history. Alexis Lafreniere's first NHL in overtime to beat the Buffalo Sabres in the COVID year and Mika Zibanejad's five-goal game to down the Washington Capitals are examples. However, the one that remains with me is Mike Richter's save on Pavel Bure against the Vancouver Canucks that silenced the old Pacific Coliseum and sent the fans inside the Garden on the other side of the continent into a frenzy.
Thank you, Sam
Sam, alongside Joe Micholetti, has become the friendly voice and face that greets us when he forces us to watch this team. It's his final year with the team. The Rangers will begin a new chapter of their history, not because of a new general manager, coach, or captain, but because the 2008 inductee into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the 2016 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award Winner for his contributions as a broadcaster will no longer be there.
Rosen is now 77, and, understandably, he wishes to spend time with his family, but that doesn't mean our great city and sport won't lose one of the most incredible people. Forget Rosen's greatness as a broadcaster for a moment; this entire sport loves him because of who he is. Approachable and kind, Rosen's been welcoming to fans both on and off the air. It's not going to be the same without him. Enjoy his final few calls, folks, and hope his immortal words ring true; "This one will last a lifetime."