Photo Credit: MSG Photos
Just because a majority of hockey has to do with fighting, rivalries, and business doesn’t mean that is what it is entirely about. Every team in the NHL actually does as much as possible off the ice to give back to their biggest supporters and motivators, the fans. From visiting soup kitchens and childrens hospitals, to holding fundraisers, the teams are all about making dreams come true, and that is exactly what the New York Rangers did last night. Though the Rangers game last night at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins began a bit different, it was a meaningful start to say the least. With a red carpet laid out on the ice, the pre-game ceremony was emotional and magical, and definitely made a few dreams come true.
With the help of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, as part of MSG’s Garden of Dreams Week, the Rangers welcomed some younger fans play an important part in the opening ceremony before the game. Fans included 10-year-old twin brothers, Elijah and Nathaniel who dressed in blue Rangers jerseys with their names on the back. They took part in a unique first puck drop during the ceremony. Seconds after dropping the puck in a face-off between Rangers captain Ryan Mcdonagh and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the two respectable captains shook hands with the young brothers. After the meeting, you could tell that the excitement was surging through them as they turned back around and ran across the red carpet, rather than walking as they had done minutes before. As if that wasn’t heartwarming enough, the National Anthem which is usually sung by John Amirante, was sung by a 15-year-old bright-eyed girl named Lucia. Her wish was to sing the National Anthem at the game, and it was beyond fulfilled. Dressed in the perfect Rangers attire of all blue, including a blue shirt made of sequins, with the classic “RANGERS” in red in diagonal across the front, she not only looked incredible, but sounded incredible also.
You may have also noticed last night that a new member was part of the blue line while Lucia sang the National Anthem. That new member was 15-year-old Christopher Falzone, a New Jersey native with love for a New York team. Though he did not join the team in the lineup during the game, he was signed to a one-day contract with them. Days after being able to skate with the Rangers at their practice facility, a press conference was called in his honor where he signed a one-day contract and was given a No. 14 Rangers Jersey. After the conference was held, he joined his team in a pre-game skate. Later on, after the game ended and the Rangers had won, Kevin Klein who was given the Broadway hat, passed it on to Falzone. The young member was told he would never skate again and would never be able to play hockey again, but Falzone has been back to skating since July, and is even looking forward to trying out for his high school hockey team.
The entire night was dedicated to moving forward. Though it was an emotional evening, it was one that was able to show everybody that some dreams are too important to leave unfulfilled. There was more than just a Rangers win in the Garden last night, there was magic, there was passion, and there was a significance to it that no other game has had so far.
