Zаny Rаngers Goаlіe Tаlk From Bygone Seаsons

A look back at some Rangers history from The Maven.

After Rangers goalie Chuck Rayner won The Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, a reporter asked the puck-stopper if he wanted his son to play the most dangerous position in sports.

Bonnie Prince Charlie's reply was to the point: "If my kid ever picked up a goalie stick, I'd grab it from his hands and hit him over the head with it!"

Another Rangers goalie from yesteryear, Jacques Plante, was on record stating that a goalie "Bears 65 percent responsibility for the success of his team; but it could go as low as 50 percent." (Plante was the first NHL goalie to regularly wear a mask in games.)

When Gump Worsley tended the Blueshirt net in the late 1950's he said that the way a puck would hit him would decide whether he'd live. In the book Puckstruck, Gump stated that if the puck came in flat it could "stun, slice or knock you silly."

Then, a pause and Worsley added: "For some reason the puck is more dangerous when it hits you straight on. Then it's like a saber. It has a cutting edge."

According to the excellent hockey book, Puckstruck, goalies dream of scoring 75 goals as a forward. By the way, several goalkeepers were asked about that and pretty much agreed.

Meanwhile, Gump compiled a four-point recipe for "goalie survival." It went as follows:

1. Forget your mistakes. 2. Don't expect too much of life; 3. Chew gum, it breaks the tension;4. After the game, read mystery stories, or when you're at home. It helps to forget the mistakes!

P.S. Rayner, Plante and Worsley all are in The Hockey Hall Of Fame!!