NYR TODAY FRIDAY 8/24: Alumni Birthday, Today in Rangers History

NYR Alumni Birthday 8/24:

Bill Goldsworthy RW (1976-1977)

Today in NYR History 8/24:

Former Rangers Player & Coach Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion is Inducted into The Hockey Hall of Fame.

Geoffrion is inducted among a star studded class that includes former Montreal teammate Jean Beliveu, Gordie Howe, Hooley Smith and Boston President Weston Adams.

A true hockey legend, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion spent the final two of his 16 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers.

Geoffrion joined the Blueshirts in June 1966 after having spent the previous two years as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens` top farm team in Quebec City. At the time, it seemed Geoffrion`s career was over, but at age 35, he was willing to give the NHL another shot with the Rangers.

In two seasons with the Rangers, Geoffrion scored 22 goals and was hardly up to the standards of his Hall of Fame career in Montreal. Despite his declining skills, he was embraced by Madison Square Garden fans, who also welcomed him as head coach following his retirement in 1968.

Geoffrion coached the Rangers for half of the 1968-69 season before he was replaced behind the bench by general manager Emile Francis. He later went on to coach the Atlanta Flames and his hometown Canadiens.

Nickname: Boom Boom
Full name: Jos. A. Bernard Geoffrion
Uniform Numbers: 5
Retired from NHL: 1968

Seasons with Rangers: 3 (2 as player from 1966-1968, 1 as head coach in 1968-69)
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 117
Playoff Games with Rangers: 5

Acquired
Claimed on waivers from Montreal on June 9, 1966.

Departed
Retired from pro hockey following 1967-68 season to pursue coaching career.

NYR - CAREER REGULAR SEASON STATS
SEASON TEAM GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%
1966-1967 RANGERS 58 17 25 42 -2 42 5 0 2 155 11.0
1967-1968 RANGERS 59 5 16 21 1 11 4 0 0 84 6.0
TEAM TOTALS: 117 22 41 63 1 53 4 0 0
NYR - CAREER PLAYOFF STATS
SEASON TEAM GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%
1966-1967 RANGERS 4 2 0 2 -1 0 2 0 0 8 25.0
1967-1968 RANGERS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
TEAM TOTALS: 5 2 1 3 0 0 0 0

RANGERS DEBUT
Oct. 19, 1966 (Rangers at Chicago Black Hawks)

FINAL GAME WITH RANGERS
April 4, 1968 (Rangers vs. Chicago Black Hawks) (playoffs)

MAJOR NHL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS WITH RANGERS
Hockey Hall of Fame — Inducted 1972

RANGERS TEAM LEADER
Most playoff goals — 1967 (tie)

RANGERS COACHING STATISTICS
Head coach — June 4, 1968, to Jan. 17, 1969
Career regular-season record — 22-18-3