Rangers pay tribute to Gilbert with pre-game ceremony, shirt patch
New York Rangers honored the late “Mr. Ranger” Rod Gilbert in their home opener at Madison Square Garden on Thursday with Gilbert’s family and number 7 on each player’s jersey. .
A tribute video that included Gilbert’s own words was shown on screen ahead of the game and a moment of silence was observed before Gilbert’s children and grandchildren were announced to the crowd. His wife Judy presented the ceremonial puck.
The Rangers wore No. 7 jerseys for warm-ups and wear a Gilbert crest on their game jerseys all season. Fans in attendance received Gilbert T-shirts.
Gilbert, the team’s all-time leading scorer with 1,021 points, played 18 seasons with the Rangers. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982 and continued to be a prolific ambassador for the sport after his retirement through various charitable causes.
In addition to several tributes since his death in August, the Rangers have hosted a pop-up exhibit in Lower Manhattan to honor his legacy. The pop-up includes memorabilia, portraits and fan messages and will be open until October 17.