Rangers honoring Family Members of Players that Started the Hockey Club

Introducing those families of the players and the owner who started it all

New York, NY- On Monday night, October 20th, the New York Rangers played the Minnesota Wild in one of their eight centennial nights to honor those who helped give this city so many wonderful memories that endear the fans to their hockey club. This particular night was called “Birth of the Franchise,” as current family members of those who have passed were honored at Madison Square Garden between TV timeouts.

George Lewis “Tex” Rickard

The first owner of the New York Rangers was originally born in Kansas City, Missouri, and later moved to Sherman, Texas, when he was four. Then moved to Henrietta, Texas, with his mother after his father passed away. At age 23, he became the Sheriff of Henrietta and earned his nickname “Tex”

Rickard was a boxing promoter and moved to New York City, where the fights were at Madison Square Garden in it first location on E.26th & Madison Ave across from Madison Square Park in the building’s second incarnation.

The NHL awarded him a franchise and moved the Garden to its second location and third building on 8th Avenue between West 49th and 50th streets. He originally wanted to call the Hockey Club the New York Giants, but the nickname “Tex’s Rangers stuck, and that’s how the hockey club was born.

Tex Rickard is buried at the famed Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY, just after the #4 train station ends. Or you can take the Metro North’s Harlem Line to Woodlawn Station, as it’s just across the street from Webster Avenue.

Bryan Hextall

The Grenfell, Saskatchewan native played 11 seasons for the Rangers and was a part of their 1939-40 Stanley Cup Championship team. Played in 449 games, scored 187 Goals, 175 Assists for a total of 362 Points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

His last name is no stranger to the sport of Hockey, as his sons Bryan Jr. and Dennis also played in the NHL. Bryan Jr. spent one season with the Rangers in the 1962-63 season, then returned to the minors until he returned to the top league with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1969-70 season, and then stints with the Atlanta Flames, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota North Stars

Dennis also played for the Rangers in two seasons from 1967-68 & 68-69. Played for the Los Angeles Kings in the 1969-70 season, then the California Golden Seals, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and finished his career with the Washington Capitals.

If you are wondering about a certain Hextall from the 80s and 90s, you are correct. Ron Hextall, the grandson, played two stints with the Philadelphia Flyers; he was also involved with the trade for Eric Lindros from the defunct Quebec Nordiques. He was the goaltender for the New York Islanders in the 1993-94 season, where they got swept in the first round by the Rangers.

His Granddaughter, Leah Hextall, is currently a TV Reporter for the NHL on ESPN and previously was the play-by-play broadcaster for Rogers Sportsnet in Canada.

Frank Boucher

The Ottawa, Ontario native played his entire career with the Rangers when the club was born. For 13 seasons from 1926-27 to 1943-44, Boucher was a part of the first two of three Stanley Cup Championships, and they were the first American NHL Hockey Club to win the Stanley Cup in the 1927-28 season.

He played in 557 games, scored 160 goals, 263 assists for 423 Points. He retired and stayed with the Rangers to become their second head coach after Lester Patrick stepped down from the position. His first year as the head coach was their last Championship before the 1994 season in 1939-40. His coaching record was 527 games, 181 wins, 263 losses, and 83 ties for a total of 445 points.

In the 1943-44 season, Boucher re-laced up his skates and became a player-coach for the Rangers. That season, he played only 15 games, scoring four goals, 10 assists with 14 points, but his coaching record suffered in 50 games with six wins, 39 Losses, and five ties for 14 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958.

The Cook Brothers:

The first brothers to play with each other on the Rangers. Bill Cook & Fred “Bun” Cook played on the same forward line along with Frank Boucher, as they were nicknamed the “Bread Line.”

Bill Cook

Played his entire 11-year career with the Rangers and was the first Captain of the hockey club to wear the C on his sweater. Bill played in 474 Games, scored 229 Goals and 138 assists for 367 points. He led the Rangers to their first two of three Stanley Cups.

He returned to the Rangers as their head coach for two seasons. In the 1951-52 & 52-53 seasons, with 117 games, 34 wins, 59 losses, and 24 ties for a total of 62 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952.

Fred “Bun” Cook

Bill’s brother, Bun, played ten seasons with the Rangers from the club’s inception until the 1936-37 season, when he joined the Boston Bruins in his final season in the NHL. With the Rangers, he played in 433 games, scoring 154 Goals, 139 assists for 293 points. After playing hockey, he became a head coach in the minor leagues with the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League for six seasons from 1937-38 to 1942-43.

Then coached the Cleveland Barons for 13 seasons from 1943-44 to 1955-56. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 before his passing on March 19th, 1998.

A wonderful gesture to invite the descendants

Inviting the descendants of these former players who started the hockey club, including the descendants of their original owner, was a brilliant gesture from the Rangers. We should never forget how the hockey club got started, and those who came before those who made the Rangers what they are today.

New York Rangers News:

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• Rangers fall to the Maple Leafs in Overtime

“Game Day. Done Right.”

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