My First Rangers Game: A Series Marking Rangers Fans Favorite Hockey Experiences

It's time again for The Maven's "My First Rangers Game" feature. This one is from Steve Choppy, a transport agent in Stanhope, New Jersey. Take it away, Steve:

"It was late fall, 1973 on a Sunday when my friend Albert called and said he had an extra ticket. It was Rangers vs. Vancouver and our seats were in the lowest level with a $10.50 price tag which was an astronomical amount in that era.

"An instrumental version of 'The Rangers Victory Song' bellowed from the speaker hanging at center ice as the Rangers funneled on the ice for the opening face-off. This was MY team and I was in the building to see them; something I never expected to happen.

"My favorite Ranger was Steve Vickers -- we shared a first name -- and he buried the first goal. I vividly remember seeing the red goal light above the goal judge illuminate, matched by six old-fashioned cherry lights and the crowd erupted. It was the loudest crowd roar that I had ever heard. Why, even the floor shook.

"Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, Ted Irvine and Bruce MacGregor also scored and had the joint jumping. Goalie Ed Giacomin turned away 29 shots during the 5-0 victory, making him the franchise leader in shutouts at 41.

"On the way out we made the obligatory stop at the merchandise stand and I picked up a copy of that season's yearbook. Little did I know that eleven years later I'd be an intern with the team;s p.r. department!

"As the evening drew to a close, it dawned on me that two milestones were realized – Giacomin's record shutout and my very first in-person attendance at a Rangers game at MSG. It reminded me of Sam Rosen when he once proclaimed, "THIS ONE WILL LAST A LIFETIME!"