Must See: Insider Reveals Untold Story Regarding New York Rangers Legendary Goaltender
Photo credit: Marc Derosiers-USA Today
Stan Fischler has been around hockey for some time. In an article posted on The Hockey News, we were privileged to read of a rare hockey story dating back to WWII, featuring goalie Doug Stevenson. The Rangers hero did the unthinkable and played two games on the same day.
The year: 1945 set across the backdrop of conflict across the World, as Old Madison Square Garden is alight with the hockey teams taking the ice and fans engaged. The Garden was on West 49 & 50th streets then.
The hero involved? That was Rangers goalie Doug Stevenson, who played for the Rangers minor league team in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League.
The team was dubbed the "New York Rovers".
And, conveniently, the Rovers played their home games on Sunday afternoons at The Old Garden.
On February 11th, 1945, Stevenson would play back-to-back games against the Washington Lions, played before a crowd of 14,917 people.
Stevenson would hold his own, and the game would finish 4-4, as the former Canadian Army star would wow the crowd with his antics later that night. Despite a busted knee and traversing to his hotel, Belvedere in Manhattan, he'd later get a call-up to play against the Montreal Canadiens.
Just as Stevenson made himself comfortable in his hotel room, the phone rang. "Frank Boucher, here," said the Rangers manager at the other end, "c'mon back, Doug, "you're our goalie tonight."
Doug Stevenson Wow's The MSG Crowd
Stevenson would be in for a challenge, as Montreal was running hot, winning their last 13 of 15 games, with Maurice Richard, Toe Blake, and Elmer Lach as the Habs' top line.
"Stevenson gave a poised performance," wrote Hy Turkin in the Daily News. "He was spectacular."
The crowd would give Stevenson a round of applause as the Edmonton native held the Canadiens to a 1-1 score after two.
While his hold on the lead would eventually give way, the Habs would take advantage of his weakness and end the game with a score of 4-3 with three goals scored in the third period.
Stevenson, however, would hold Maurice Richard scoreless, a feat in itself:
"Perhaps Stevenson's greatest feat was in blanking Rocket Richard," added Turkin. "Last night Richard had tied the modern record for goals in one season."
Stevenson would earn the acclaim of 15K Rangers fans in attendance, and would smile upon seeing the headlines the next day despite the loss.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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AOUT 26 | 34 ANSWERS Must See: Insider Reveals Untold Story Regarding New York Rangers Legendary Goaltender Would you have enjoyed seeing the New York Rangers take on the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 79.4 % |
| No | 7 | 20.6 % |
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