Incredible But True Rangers Stories
You may have heard of Taffy Abel or you may not but -- if you care for vintage Rangers history – now is the time to hear about one of the biggest, best and funniest of Blueshirt backliners.
Before the Rangers were born, Abel already had made a name for himself as an amateur. Taffy was an American Olympic hero decades before Uncle Sam's Gold Medal winners of 1980.
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Here are some worthwhile Taffy Abel notes:
* A FIRST: Abel was the first Native American (Ojibwe in the Winter Olympics 1924 Silver Medal) , He also was the Team USA Flag Bearer. And the first American-born player in the NHL.
* HOME TOWN: Taffy came from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
* BEST FEAT: Working alongside future Hall of Famer Ching Johnson, Abel starred on the Rangers first Stanley Cup-winning team in 1928.
Because of his being overweight – Taffy loved beer – manager Lester Patrick regularly had his heavyweight defenseman get on the scales. Then Patrick would bawl him out.
"Taffy just grinned and continued on his way," Frank Boucher wrote in When The Rangers Were Young. "He loved to sing and harmonize and then would break into a soft-shoe routine, a marvelous grin creasing his round, glowing face."
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One day after a practice, Patrick was instructing his two defensemen on what they should do on a three-on-two break.
Boucher: "Lester carefully explained how they must make certain the puck carrier could not drive between them, that they must wait until the last split-second and then 'Spread Out,' covering the two wing men, one of whom would be taking the pass from the centerman."
Incredible But True Rangers Tales: The Forgotten Cup Hero Of 1940
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Rangers history like The Maven.
Since Lester's lecture sounded like the drone of bagpipes, Taffy fell asleep. When Patrick awakened Abel with a shout, and admonished him for snoozing, the defenseman shot back: "I wasn't asleep, I was just resting my eyes."
Lester then asked Abel what he'd do if alone on defense and a three-man rush came down on him. Taffy thought for a moment and then shot back:
"I'd do exactly what you said I should do, – I'D SPREAD OUT!"
P.S. Abel also played on the Chicago Black Hawks 1934 Stanley Cup-winners!
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