February 25, 1940…Television’s First Hockey Game, NBC
February 25, 1940…Television’s First Hockey Game, NBC
75 years ago today, hockey came to television on experimental station, W2XBS; Channel 1 in New York City. There was only one camera there to cover the action, but cover it they did.
That night at Madison Square Gardens, the New York Rangers took on the Montreal Canadians. The Rangers won, 6 -2.
The 1939–40 New York Rangers season was the 14th season for the team in the National Hockey League. With new coach Frank Boucher the Rangers finish in 2nd Place again with an impressive 27–11–10 record. In the semi-finals the Rangers beat the Boston Bruins in 6 games to advance to the 1940 Stanley Cup Finals.
In the finals the Rangers win their first 2 games by scores of 2–1 and 6–2 at the Garden, before finishing the series on the road because of the circus. After dropping the first 2 games in Toronto the Rangers won a critical Game five 2–1 in overtime on Muzz Patrick’s overtime goal. In Game 6 it would take overtime again as the Rangers won their 3rd Stanley Cup on Bryan Hextall’s goal 2:33 into OT. Following the season the Rangers would celebrate buying out their lease at Madison Square Garden by burning the lease in the historic Stanley Cup, a move that would take on greater mystery in coming years.Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Madison Sq. Garden III with it’s famous marquee on 8th Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets,
That was the last time they won the Cup until 1994. In order to telecast the game, I’m guessing they added more lights to the Gardens to be able get a broadcast image? When the CBC started regular broadcasts of hockey games on their fabled “Hockey Night In Canada” broadcasts, the lights were upgraded at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens and the Montreal Forum.
Here’s the New York Times “Notes on Television” column for that date, with the listings for W2XBS for the week.
Ah! But, did a fight break out I wonder.