This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/6/2006.
The NY Rangers are indeed one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Hockey League. So many NHL all-time greats have skated on the ice at Madison Square Garden as a NY Ranger including Rod Gilbert, Eddie Giacomin, Phil Esposito, John Davidson, Brad Park, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. This wooden bench measures 46" long, 12" wide and 17-1/2" high and was one of six players' benches used during the NHL games at Madison Square Garden from 1968-1998. In fact, according to MSG's building operations department, these benches were actually transported from the old Garden on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets when the new Garden opened at Penn Plaza in February, 1968. It is believed that the benches date to the mid-1960's. They were used when the Garden played host to the 26th NHL All-Star Game on January 30th, 1973 as well as the 45th All-Star Game on January 22, 1994 and the 1979 Challenge Cup between the Soviet Union and Team NHL. Perhaps most notably to NY Rangers fans, this bench was used when "The Captain", Mark Messier guaranteed victory and led his team to their first Stanley Cup Championship since 1940 on June 14, 1994. At the end of the 1997-98 season, the benches were replaced. The Garden hosted more than 1,000 NHL games since 1968, while this bench was in use. This is a true piece of NY Rangers history and is accompanied by a NY Rangers team letter describing its history signed by Neil Smith, the former President and General Manager.