20 replies to this topic

[DropThePuck]

Thursday should be an emotional night for Mark Messier, when his number is retired.
(AP)

For most Canadian hockey fans, Mark Messier will forever be an Oiler, helping Wayne Gretzky turn Edmonton into the City of Champions.

But Gretzky says people cannot underestimate what the Moose brought to Broadway. That's why Madison Square Garden is expected to rock Thursday night when the New York Rangers retire Messier's No. 11 prior to a game against the visiting Oilers.

<SportNet.ca link>

[Dark Knight]

I got my Kleenex boxes all ready to go

[Jennifer1515]

just in case you run out DK

talk about an emotional night

[MrsBevo]

If Mallard can't be watching, I wonder if someone somewhere could videotape or get a tape for her of this? She always has had a thing for Messier.

[Dark Knight]

just in case you run out DK

talk about an emotional night

Thanks Jennifer ... I'll ride shotgun on your couch for this one. Or maybe just help myself to your enormous birthday cake pantry

[Jennifer1515]

just in case you run out DK

talk about an emotional night

Thanks Jennifer ... I'll ride shotgun on your couch for this one. Or maybe just help myself to your enormous birthday cake pantry

hey...I may have a SUPER tiny apartment but when i moved in I made sure there was plenty of room for my baking supplies


I may need to borrow some of those tissues...err maybe not borrow but use

[DropThePuck]

Looks like even Mess may get teary-eyed ... stock up on your tissues ...


<link>

[Duckywuv]

Mark Messier is a class act and was one of the most talented players to ever touch the Ice. His tenacity and wherewithal led more than one team to the Stanley Cup. Good bye Moose. And good luck.

[ahtikullervo]

Gretzky, Kurri, Messier, Anderson, Lowe, Tikkanen, Coffey ... It was a great team...

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier laughs during an emotional news conference as National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Messier's # 11 jersey will be retired in a formal ceremony Thursday, Jan. 12, before a game with the Edmonton Oilers, Messier's former team. Known as "The Captain," Messier is second on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,887 points and led the Rangers to a Stanley Cup in the 1993-1994 season.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier sheds tears during an emotional news conference in which he recalled his years playing hockey, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at Madison Sqaure Garden in New York. Messier's # 11 jersey will be retired in a formal ceremony Thursday, before a game with the Edmonton Oilers, Messier's former team before he joined the Rangers. Known as "The Captain," Messier is second on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,887 points and led the Rangers to a Stanley Cup in the 1993-1994 season.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier poses with the Stanley Cup trophy he helped the New York Rangerss win in the 1993-1994 season...
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)


From left, New York Rangers President and General Manager Glenn Sather, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier, center, Cablevision President James Dolan and Edmonton Oilers General Manasger Kevin Lowe pose for a photograph following a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at Madison Sqaure Garden in New York.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

[Dark Knight]

Wow! There are enough misspellings on that post to choke ... me to tears

[DropThePuck]

Hey Jennifer! It sounds like DK's gonna need to use more of your tissues.

[Jennifer1515]

here ya go DK

[DropThePuck]

''Maybe I should've kept playing,'' his said, in between wipes of his eyes with a cloth napkin. ''It would've solved a lot of this.''
...
Four months later, he was back in the Garden ready for a two-day party that will culminate Thursday in a pre-game ceremony before the Rangers face the Edmonton Oilers. Rinkside seats are going for $1,000 US and up. Even tickets in the nosebleed section are going for well over 10 times their $22.50 face value.

''I'm looking at this as a celebration. Can't you tell I'm celebrating,'' he asked with a laugh while dabbing his eyes again.

<link>

[Dark Knight]

Messier just stepped on the ice at MSG, standing ovation, people shouting his name and he's crying already. Before the ceremonies they interviewed Tikkanen, it was good to hear some Tikkanish again

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier holds his son Douglas Paul as he and his family watch his number 11 being raised to the rafters during a ceremony to retire his number at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006. Messier, who played 25 seasons in the National Hockey League, retires second on the all-time scoring list with 1,887 points, scoring 694 goals and notching 1,193 assists while winning seven Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier, holding his son Douglas, looks up along with his family as his No. 11 is retired and raised to the rafters during a pre-game ceremony Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at New York's Madison Square Garden.
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

[Khan]

why were they booing John Davidson

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier is cheered by his former teammates Nick Kiprios and Jeff Bookaboom as he sits in a fish fighting chair presented to him by his former teammates during a ceremony to retire his number 11 at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier speaks to the crowd as members of the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup Champions team stand behind him during a ceremony to retire his number at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier waves with other former Rangers who have had their numbers retired (from L) Mick Richter, Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin during a ceremony to retire Messier's number 11 at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier holds his son Douglas Paul as he and his family watch as his number 11 is raised to the rafters during a ceremony to retire his number at at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier and his former Rangers teammate Mike Richter embrace during a ceremony to retire Messier's number 11 at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006. Former Ranger Adam Graves looks on.
(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier looks at deep sea fishing rod and reel presented to him by current Rangers player Jaromir Jagr during a pre-game ceremony to retire Messier's No. 11on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at New York's Madison Square Garden.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier wipes away tears during a ceremony to retire his number 11 at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/ Ray Stubblebine)

[DropThePuck]

Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier, right, reacts during a pre-game ceremony to retire his No. 11 on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at New York's Madison Square Garden.
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier wipes away tears as he speaks in front of his former Rangers teammates during a ceremony to retire his number 11 at New York's Madison Square Garden, January 12, 2006.
(REUTERS/Mike Segar)


Former New York Rangers captain Mark Messier kisses the Stanley Cup as his family looks on as his No. 11 is retired and raised to the rafters during a pre-game ceremony Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at New York's Madison Square Garden. Messier led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Championship in 1994.
(AP Photo/Daniel P. Derella)