Tribute Rod Gilbert passes; aged 80 years old
- Thread starter Irishguy42
- Start date
17futurecap
Registered User
One of the nicest guys to ever meet at any Rangers game/team event.
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
- 44,859
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The greatest Ranger of all time. Not "one of the greatest". This man leads the organization in goals and points, first one to get his number raised to the rafters.
I'm saddened by the sudden realization that Gilbert won't be there for Lundqvist's retirement ceremony
Mike in Houston
Registered User
Sad day. Meet him a few times and couldn’t have been any nicer each time. Got to do a dinner with him with only about 8 other season ticket holders. He told stories all night about his early playing days. Then he wanted all of us to tell him how we became ranger fans. Just a true gentleman.
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Machinehead
GoAwayTrouba
They better do something nice. Should wear a big ol' 7 patch the whole year.
He once wished my dad a happy birthday. He's a nice man.
He once wished my dad a happy birthday. He's a nice man.
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
RIP to a legend.
Incredibly sad that he passed.
(Also incredibly sad that he still leads the team in all-time scoring in goals and points, but that's another topic...)
Incredibly sad that he passed.
(Also incredibly sad that he still leads the team in all-time scoring in goals and points, but that's another topic...)
Last edited:
Bacon Artemi Bravo
Registered User
- Sep 20, 2007
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"Roger Bear"
my first favorite as a young kid
my first favorite as a young kid
Rod single-handedly changed the course of Ranger history. Way back in the days of the Original Six, Montreal automatically had the rights to any junior player in Quebec. Not wanting to get lost in the vast Montreal junior system, he left the Montreal area for Guelph, Ontario where the Rangers had a junior team and had the rights to any player there. And, he took his friend Jean Ratelle with him! Can you imagine how much stronger those mighty Canadians would have been with them and how terrible we would have been?
As I said in another thread, I remember when they brought the 21 year old Gilbert up from the playoffs against Toronto in 1962 and he was their best player. His career almost ended because of back injuries and a spinal fusion. The surgery was much more serious then. I believe he first hurt his back when he fell after someone threw something on the ice. In his early days as a Ranger, he used to sit with a heating pad on his back.
My favorite player from when I first became a fan.
As I said in another thread, I remember when they brought the 21 year old Gilbert up from the playoffs against Toronto in 1962 and he was their best player. His career almost ended because of back injuries and a spinal fusion. The surgery was much more serious then. I believe he first hurt his back when he fell after someone threw something on the ice. In his early days as a Ranger, he used to sit with a heating pad on his back.
My favorite player from when I first became a fan.
eco's bones
Registered User
I loved watching this guy play for us. He wasn’t that big but he had a ton of heart and skill. He was my first favorite Rangers player.
RangersFan
Registered User
Gospel of Prospal
America's Team
Short story: A few years ago I was on the M31 bus on York Avenue and all of a sudden I see an older guy with a Rangers cap on running for the bus. As he got closer, I recognized that he was Rod Gilbert (I saw him a few times around Yorkville and the UES. I don't know if he lived here or what, but I must've seen him 3 or 4 times. He would always wear the same Rangers cap). Just as he arrived at the bus stop, the bus began to pull away. Rod banged on the door for the driver to let him in, but the driver wouldn't open the door and ended up driving away. I was getting off next stop so I got up and asked the bus driver, "You know who you just pulled away from, right?" He said, "No." "I said Rod Gilbert from the Hockey Rangers. He's one of the greatest players of all-time. He's in the Hall of Fame." The driver said, "Oh...I don't follow hockey. I just like the Knicks."
I've met him a few times over the years. He was always such a classy, kind gentleman. One of the top-5 Rangers of all-time. An absolute gem on and off the ice.
I've met him a few times over the years. He was always such a classy, kind gentleman. One of the top-5 Rangers of all-time. An absolute gem on and off the ice.
Uncle Dru
Formerly Kakk Addict
- Mar 12, 2012
- 645
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Seeing Rod interact with fans just a handful of times in person it was so easy to see he was a genuinely nice guy and loved every minute of it. He will be missed
RIP
RIP
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Gospel of Prospal
America's Team
They will, for sure. Hell, they may wear a 7 on one side and a 30 on the other.
hi
Sell sell sell
- May 23, 2008
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Roo Returns
Skjeikspeare No More
Just a cool guy. Really enjoyed the stories and interviews he'd do. Terrible loss. I hope his family is doing ok (as ok as they can be of course).
Absolutely have some kind of badge or #7 on all the helmets this year. Opening Night Tribute is a must.
Absolutely have some kind of badge or #7 on all the helmets this year. Opening Night Tribute is a must.
