As time passes, and we avidly follow our favorite sports teams, a multitude of players come and go. While we may recall them during their time with the team, some slip through the crevices of our memory, only to resurface through a nostalgic memory or an old piece of media, causing us to reconnect their faces and names with the iconic Rangers uniform.
Among the hallowed names like Messier, Leetch, Giacomin, Lundqvist, and others, there are those more unknown Rangers, such as Corey Locke, Sandis Ozololinsh, James Sheppard, and others who may have faded from our recollection. As we traverse the regular season, we’ll delve into a few of these “Forgotten Rangers” On this edition, we look at the brother of a Hockey Hall of Famer and an actual Hockey Hall of Famer.
Vic Howe, Right Wing
Time with Rangers: 33 games for the Rangers over three seasons from 1951-1955
It seems as if the Rangers have had a historical knack for being on the less famous side of sibling pairings (think Marcel Hossa and Fedor Fedorov). This trend appears to stretch back to the 1950s when the Rangers counted Vic Howe among their ranks—a lesser-known brother of the legendary Gordie Howe. Vic Howe’s hockey career was predominantly spent in the minor leagues across the United States and Canada. His most impressive statistical season was in 1950-51 when he played for the EHL’s New York Rovers.
Over the course of his 14-year professional career, Vic Howe spent three seasons with the New York Rangers, totaling 33 games and contributing seven points (comprising 3 goals and 4 assists). We have photographic evidence of him wearing the Rangers’ uniform (above), often alongside his brother, Gordie. It’s safe to assume that he might not have found himself in the spotlight were it not for his more famous sibling. Of course, this is merely an educated guess.
Vic Howe retired from hockey in 1956-57 but briefly came out of retirement for a season in 1961-62 to play in a senior league. Following his final retirement from the sport, Howe pursued a new career as a constable with the Canadian National Railway Police (CNRP) in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Sadly, Vic Howe passed away on January 31, 2015.
Bobby Hull, Left Wing
Time with Rangers: 5 exhibition games in September 1981
When you hear the name Bobby Hull, what immediately springs to mind? A hockey legend? The Chicago Blackhawks? The Winnipeg Jets? Maybe even his distinctive curved stick? Take a moment to ponder on that.
Done? Great. I’d be willing to bet that the phrase “Bobby Hull, Rangers” wasn’t among your first thoughts.
During his impressive 15-season tenure with the Blackhawks, Hull amassed a remarkable 1,170 points, including an incredible 610 goals, securing his place as the third-highest goal scorer in the National Hockey League at the time. Hull, at the peak of his prowess, even contemplated a comeback in 1981. In his seven seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, back when they played in the WHA, he lit up the league with an impressive 638 points, including a staggering 303 goals, all achieved in just 411 games.
However, injuries and the relentless march of time began to take their toll on Hull. By the final season of the WHA in 1978-79, he had only managed to play a handful of games. But when the WHA merged with the NHL (absorbing teams like the Jets, Oilers, Nordiques, and Whalers), Hull came out of retirement one last time to don the Jets jersey again. He played 18 games before being traded to the Whalers for future considerations, where he put in a strong performance in nine regular-season games and three playoff appearances. He ultimately left the game once more to care for a friend injured in a car accident.
And now, we come to the Rangers. In September 1981, Bobby Hull embarked on one final comeback, this time with the New York Rangers, despite being 42 years old. Coach Herb Brooks praised Hull’s enduring energy and skill, and it appeared as though he was genuinely committed to sticking with the Rangers.
But Hull, who is 42 years old now and has not played hockey since the spring of 1980, when he left the New England Whalers, was clearly trying to make the Rangers as eagerly as any rookie. In today’s scrimmage, he played with abandon and sustained a cut from a stick over his left eye.
”Look at him out there,” said Brooks. ”He’s happy to be here. He’s youthful, psychologically. James F. Clarity/New York Times
Regrettably, this comeback was short-lived, lasting only five exhibition games before Hull and the Rangers mutually decided it was best to bring it to a close. Hull managed to tally one goal and one assist in those five games. Just imagine the possibilities if Hull’s return had worked out, and he’d made the team. Teaming up with Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg on a line could have resulted in something truly remarkable. Alas, it remains a tantalizing “what if” scenario.
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