Messier’s #11 Retired by Rangers

In a ceremony that at times was quite moving, the New York Rangers retired Mark Messier’s #11 at Madison Square Garden last night.

Messier wore the #11 sweater for the Rangers for 10 seasons, and will always be considered a legend for, among other things, his “We Will Win!” prediction prior to Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils. Messier made the prediction as a captain trying to inspire his teammates, and then single-handedly won Game 6, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-2 win. The Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup, their first in 54 years, thus cementing Messier as an icon not only in the hockey world, but as an icon of New York forever.

Hell, when guys like Wooly admit to liking a player not on a Philly team, you know he’s good.