By Stretch Jenkinson
NHL Backstory’s Newest Episode Explores Every Angle of the Rangers’ Run to the ’94 Championship
NEW YORK (June 4, 2024) – It has been almost 30 years (June 14, 1994) since the New York Rangers celebrated their most recent Stanley Cup following a 54-year drought. To commemorate the occasion, NHL Studios has released Garden Party, the newest episode of NHL Backstory – the audio series that aspires to relive unique stories and significant milestones from the NHL’s 100-plus year history.
Garden Party sets out to reconstruct the unique set of circumstances, wave of emotions and generation of outrageous fandom that lifted the Rangers to a 3-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final nearly three decades ago.
In collaboration with ESPN’s release of No Easy Victories – The 1994 New York Rangers and narrated by ESPN personality Arda Öcal, Garden Party digs into the archives to share stories from an unlikely cast of characters – including Rangers players (Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Nick Kypreos), Club executives (Dave Checketts, Neil Smith and Mike Keenan) and support staff, sportswriters who covered the series, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
The story delves into controversy and behind-the-scenes conflict; celebratory moments from the players’ favorite bar (the Auction House); emotional, first-person accounts from diehard Rangers fans who have passed down their fandom through generations; and how Gerry Cosby & Co., a sporting goods retailer, fit into the puzzle.
* * * * *
E60 ‘No Easy Victories – The 1994 New York Rangers’
ESPN’s E60 gives a first look at the upcoming documentary, No Easy Victories – The 1994 New York Rangers. After 54 years without a Stanley Cup, the city of New York and Rangers found inspiration in one of their own, NYPD officer Steven McDonald, who was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty who then helped galvanize a team and lift a curse.
Jeremy Schaap chronicles the story of the 1994 team through the eyes of the McDonald family in the new E60 special. In addition to the McDonald family, interviews include Rangers greats Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Mike Richter, as well as GM Neil Smith and coach Mike Keenan. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, former Rangers broadcaster Howie Rose, and former beat writer John Dellapina are also part of the program.
The documentary debuts today, June 4, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and same day airing for on-demand streaming on ESPN+.
Fans can view the full trailer here.
* * * * *
ICYMI: NHL BACKSTORY
Episode 1: Quack … Quack … Quack!
Episode 2: Tales from the Deadline
The NHL Studios Podcast lineup also includes popular shows like NHL Fantasy On Ice™, NHL Draft Class™, NHL @TheRink™ and The Chirp with Daren Millard. Fans can download individual episodes of the series at www.nhl.com/podcasts. NHL Podcasts is an NHL Studio Production. NHL Podcasts are available on Castbox, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iheartradio, iTunes, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn Radio.
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS & NHLmedia.com
