A True Blue Blueshirt Fan Tells About His 1994 Cup Adventure
It's time you Rangers fans lighten up a bit.
Granted the club is out of the postseason thrills but it doesn't mean that we have to forget about the good times of 1994.
Long-time fan Mark Linde of is here to bring some nostalgia smiles. Take it away, Mark.
"During the 1993-94 NHL season I was lucky enough to have a 1/4 season split of 4 tickets in Section 109 of The Garden that I shared with my brother-in-law, George.
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"When the Blueshirts made the playoffs we were entitled to every 4th home game. As the roulette wheel spun its way through the tourney our number hit for game 5 of the final Cup round,
"The four chosen to watch the Rangers hopefully hoist the Cup for the first time in 40 years were George, myself, George Sr, and his brother Burton. We were, of course, sky high with excitement outside MSG.
"As it happened we were waiting for Burton to arrive from Long Island so we couldn't get inside and get the party started. After an hour of waiting and game time approaching, we sold Burton's ticket to some incredibly lucky fan who was now hoping – as we were – to witness Rangers history in the making.
"As for Burton, the reason why he never showed up – as he told us later – was the lame excuse that traffic was very bad so he turned around and went back to his Long Island home. (The poor sap never heard of the Long Island Rail Road.)
"Well, we all know how game 5 went -- the Canucks killed our party by winning. Then, the Canucks went home to Vancouver and won game 6. Now I'm beside myself with angst and other forms of nervousness until I finally came to my senses.
"Okay, the series is tied but the decisive Game 7 is at The Garden and I'm desperate to get into The Garden for that game of games. I needed help because this was not going to be easy, so I turned to my wife for help.
"At the time, she worked at a prestigious investment firm but their skybox seats were long since spoken for and it seemed that I was out of luck. I begged my wife to call the MSG salesperson to find a way to get me into the building.
"She did, and was told 'nothing was available...hardest ticket in town.' I was despondent. But, on the other hand, I always had a knack for finding my way into historic events.
"I've seen numerous sports championships and hard-to-get-into concerts. But now with another chance to see the Ranger's end their 40 year curse, I was being shut out.
"But then at around 4 o'clock the phone rang...my wonderful, beautiful, magnificent wife She said that she actually got one ticket...she found me one ticket! Turns out that my wife called MSG and there happened to be one last ticket available for her firm.
"Can you believe this; she then said, 'Do you want it?' Like what kind of question is that? 'OF COURSE I WANT IT!!!'
"Well, I guess I don't have to tell you that the rest was/is, history!' I had a great seat in the middle of the crowd and after the victory I was up almost all night just savoring our first Cup since 1940!"
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