We Did Everything but Win: Former New York Rangers Remember the Emile Francis Era (1964-1976)

by George Grimm, Emile Francis (Foreword by)

Overview

We Did Everything But Win: An Oral History of the Emile Francis Era New York Rangers (1964–1976) is an entertaining account of one of the most exciting and unforgettable periods in the history of the Broadway Blueshirts as told by Francis as well as several of his players.

George Grimm chronicles each season of the Francis era when “The Cat” transformed them from perennial league doormats to a team that made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs for nine consecutive seasons, including a Finals appearance in 1972. There are also chapters detailing Emile’s playing career and his hiring as general manager as well as the aftermath of his dismissal and an analysis of his tenure behind the bench and as GM. It was during those years that the National Hockey League doubled in size and the Rangers moved into a brand-new Madison Square Garden. As the popularity of the National Hockey League skyrocketed, who could forget the Rangers’ battles on the ice with Boston’s Big Bad Bruins and Philadelphia’s Broad Street Bullies and showdowns with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks? All the great moments are here including a heart-stopping, triple-overtime victory in the 1971 playoffs and Vic Hadfield’s 50th goal the following season.

We Did Everything But Win is a tribute to the Rangers of that era; Jacques Plante and Marcel Paille, Eddie Giacomin and Gilles Villemure, Harry Howell and Jim “The Chief” Neilson, “The Old Smoothies,” the “G-A-G Line,” and the “Bulldog Line.” It’s the story of colorful players with nicknames like “Boomer,” “Stemmer,” and “Sarge” and fan favorites such as Brad Park, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Walt Tkaczuk. It’s all here—the highs and the lows, the inspiring victories, the devastating losses, and the funny moments along the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510722309
Publisher:	Sports Publishing LLC
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	420,854
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

George Grimm is a former I.T. Auditor and technical writer who began writing about the Rangers in 1988 when he published SportStat...The Ranger Report. He then wrote the Blueseat Point of View column for the Blueshirt Bulletin for many years. He currently writes the Retro Rangers column for Insidehockey.com and his work has also appeared in the Rangers Game Night program, Bergen (NJ) magazine, and the LoHud Rangers Report Blog. He lives in Suffern, New York.

Table of Contents

Foreword Emile Francis ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 Muzz Must Go! 1

The Cat 3

The Bathgate Trade 12

The Patrick Brothers 14

Chapter 2 1964-65-Reorganizing and Rebuilding 17

The 1964-65 Season 26

Ulf Sterner, the NHL's First European Player 33

John Halligan 35

Marcel Paille 40

Chapter 3 1965-66-The Cornerstone of the Franchise 45

The Old Smoothies 52

Emile Francis and the Goal judge 56

Joe Schaefer-The House Goalie 58

Jacques Plante's Continuing Role in Ranger History 60

Chapter 4 1966-67-The Boomer and the Playoffs 62

The Playoffs 71

Harry Howell Night 75

Johnny Bucyk for Earl Ingarfield? It Almost Happened 76

Gilbert's Impressive Playoff Debut 77

The Metropolitan Hockey League 78

Chapter 5 1967-68-Six New Teams and a New Garden 82

The Playoffs 86

The 1967 Expansion 89

The New Garden 91

A Day-Night Doubleheader at the Garden 97

Camille "The Eel" Henry 98

Big Ned 101

Chapter 6 1968-69-The Year of the Rookies 103

The Playoffs 112

A Snowy Day in February 114

Hail to the Chief! 118

Discipline 120

Gerry Cosby, The Man Behind the Brand 122

Chapter 7 1969-70-A Great Start and a Wild Finish 126

A Season to Remember 130

The Playoffs 140

The Tim Horton Trade 145

Road Woes: Bumped by the Stones, Beaten at the Buzzer, and Grounded by a Strike 146

The Terry Sawchuk Tragedy 153

Remembering the Boomer 158

Playing for a Tie 161

Ned Braden on Broadway? 161

Chapter 8 The Blueshirts on the Air 163

Radio 163

Marv Albert 164

Sal Messina 168

Television 173

Win Elliot 173

Bob Wolff 176

Bill Chadwick and Jim Gordon 180

Chapter 9 1970-71-A Record-Breaking Season 185

The Playoffs 200

Frank Paice Honored by Hockey Writers 208

Tom the Bomb 210

Chapter 10 1971-72-A Trip to the Finals 212

The Playoffs 223

Play the Man 231

Chapter 11 1972-73-The Islanders, the WHA, and the Fat Cats 234

The Birth of a Rivalry 234

The WHA and the Fat Cats 237

The 1972-73 Season 240

The Playoffs 249

Hadfield Bolts Team Canada 255

The 1973 All-Star Game 257

Chapter 12 1973-74-Francis Tries to Take a Step Back 258

The Regular Season 259

The Playoffs 269

New Blood 284

Goodbye, Vic 285

Why Not Shero? 286

Chapter 13 1974-75-The Beginning of the End 288

The Playoffs 303

Giacomin's Gracious Gesture 307

NHLPHA's First Good Guy Award 307

Chapter 14 1975-76-The End of an Era 309

Gone But Never Forgotten 311

Chapter 15 Aftermath and Analysis 334

Analysis 342

Acknowledgments 352

Bibliography 354

Editorial Reviews

I liked George Grimm’s book, We Did Everything But Win so much, I couldn’t put it down. Many revelations by and about Emile Francis.”—Stan Fischler, MSG Network hockey analyst and publisher of The Fischler Report

“Although meant for Rangers fans, one doesn't have to be a Rangers fan to enjoy this book. We Did Everything But Win is great reading for all true hockey fans and those who love reading great sports history.”—Inside Hockey

“I liked George Grimm’s book, We Did Everything But Win so much, I couldn’t put it down. Many revelations by and about Emile Francis.”—Stan Fischler, MSG Network hockey analyst and publisher of The Fischler Report

“Although meant for Rangers fans, one doesn't have to be a Rangers fan to enjoy this book. We Did Everything But Win is great reading for all true hockey fans and those who love reading great sports history.”—Inside Hockey

From the Publisher