Relive the memories of 1994 with me. 27 years ago today the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win their 4th Stanley Cup in franchise history. More importantly, it broke a 54-year championship drought that haunted the franchise. The chants of 19-40 died that night as Commissioner Gary Bettman handed Captain Mark Messier the Stanley Cup. I can watch this video over and over again.
I think as a kid I went through two 1994 VHS tapes because I would watch them every day. For a kid growing up in New York in the ’90s, nothing was cooler to me than that team. I remember taking shots in the driveway from the side of the net trying to reenact the Brian Leetch goal or wrap around the net and celebrate like Stéphane Matteau. While wearing my Adam Graves jersey my Dad got me that had an “A” stitched on it which I thought was the coolest jersey in the world (it still is).
This past year I started a podcast and I have gotten a chance to talk with three of my heroes from that 1994 team. Each one of them reliving that season through their eyes. While giving me and listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the team that has meant so much to me and Rangers fans for the past 27 years of our lives. The stories they tell are incredible and a lot of them I had never heard before. From locker room stories, parade day craziness, and stories from partying with the cup these guys tell it all!
Episode 8- Greg Gilbert
Episode 21- Nick Kypreos
Episode 22- Doug Lidster
Every time I get to talk to one of these guys I have to pinch myself. They will always be the team for me. That was my childhood, watching those guys. Pretending I was Leetch, Graves, or Messier shooting on my brother who was wearing a Mike Richter jersey. I was lucky enough to attend the 25th Anniversary celebration two years ago at MSG with my wife and all these memories flooded back to me. Just as Sam Rosen said it is a memory that truly will “last a lifetime.” I can only hope that I can share a memory like this with my son the same way my Dad got to share 1994 with me.
Be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on the New York Rangers and USA Hockey: @KHallNY. You can also listen to my NY Rangers podcast The Broadway Hat Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify for Rangers news and interviews with past and current players.
