I had the honor of meeting Mr. Gilbert not quite 20 years ago. I was a bartender on the east side. He came in with a small group of people. I recognized him immediately of course. He came up to the bar and order for his group. I took the order and said " not for nothing, and I promise I won't say a word, but aren't you Rod Gilbert"? He didn't miss a beat and said in his french accent " No no no I am Jack Nicholson". We both broke out in loud laughter. Everyone in the bar turned and looked at us. I told him how much he meant to my father and I. That I wore number 7 my whole childhood no matter the sport. He asked me for a pen and something to write on and wrote the nicest note to my father. When he and his friends were getting ready to leave he pulled me aside and we talked again for a moment. Then he shook my hand and said what a pleasure it was to meet me. His pleasure to meet me? His Hall of Fame Hockey career was equally matched by his Hall of Fame Philanthropy. The definition of a great guy. When he walked out I opened my hand, two fresh one hundred dollar bills were folded up in my palm. Rod you are so loved by so many. And will be missed immensely.
@The Goods -He wasn’t a phoney and appreciated the fans who supported the team. A great hockey player and ambassador for the Rangers. Now about the many woman in his life……you’ll have to ask Brad Park about that!
interestingly his career almost never happened--while playing Jr. hockey in Guelph, Ontario he slipped on some garbage on the ice and broke his back-he required spinal fusion and post-operatively developed a blood clot that almost killed him. Emile Francis was with him during this and pleaded with the doctors to save him. Thank God that Mr. Gilbert recovered and was able to go on to a stellar career with the Rangers (until that idiot Phil Esposito essentially forced him to retire when he came to the Rangers and took over in management)
For me i think of all the greatest NY Sports heros that played in the 70s and 80s the most exciting to watch in day to day play in any sport and the most honorable was Rod Gilbert.....I will go to my grave thinking that.....thanks Rod.....i will never forget any of it.....
I was in h.s. in New Jersey in 1966 and didn't know squat about hockey, but my classmates Jay Delmaster and Tom McAneny were big fans of the Rangers, and I caught the hockey fever, and it was such a blessing to have that new interest...hockey and the Rangers. When we moved to Calif in 1967, the Kings franchise began and I would always attend when the Rangers were in town. Now Kings and Rangers are still my favorite teams, so when L.A. beat N.Y. a few yrs. ago in the Finals for the Cup....it was a huge sports thrill for an old fan like me.
One of the greats of his period that sometimes gets put back behinds The Orr’s, Hull’, Howe’s, Esposito’s ect…I can honestly say that against Boston, he never took a night off and still played hard on lopsided games. Great skill with the puck, he could about do it all minus the speed.
Rod was my all time favorite athlete. He wrote an article for Jock (NY sports late 60s-early 70s) magazine in the fall of 69. He said that when he was playing junior hockey he was invited to spring training by the Milwaukee Braves but declined because his hockey season wasn't over. It had a picture of him sitting in a field box seat in an empty Shea Stadium with a suit on and his feet up. He wondered what it would have been like playing for the Mets, they had just won the World Series. So many great memories; the last game of the 70-71 season when he scored his 30th goal for the first time in his career right in front of me. I was also at his last game when he scored his last goal. It wasn't until he died that I found out he was 2nd only to Gordie Howe in lifetime points by a right wing when he retired.
Loved Rod....Met him at Home Depot Expo in Carle Place with his wife 10 years ago...he was long retired and no one recognized him but me. I went up and asked him for an autograph on my receipt and he wanted to know if he could get a bite. The Home Depot Expos were an attempt at a more upscale store so they had a decent coffee shop in them. We had lunch while his wife shopped. The word got around and a few of the workers came over to meet him. When they did, he acknowledged who was but I told them please guys, I'm trying to have some private time with my Dad ! They were cool and left us alone. Rod laughed. To me, the most important questions were about The Summit Series in 72. He had some amazing stories about that series and I remembered that he had a critical fight in Game 7 of that series (very out of character for him) but it turned the tide in that game (together with Paul Henderson who was on fire in that series). Great guy...God Bless
Mr. Gilbert was, is and will always me my favorite hockey player . Back in the day 3 pro athletes took NYC by storm, Mickey Mantle, Frank Gifford and Rod Gilbert, he undoubtedly is Mr Ranger
Rod was my childhood idol. A great man and an amazing hockey player. I ran into him many times in the hallways of the garden and he always stopped to shake hands. I never bothered him for an autograph because I thought he was immortal and would always be there. RIP Rod you were amazing on and off ice.
Great documentary on one of the greatest in the game. Rod Gilbert, Guy Lafleur and Derek Sanderson...the 70's rock stars of Hockey. Not bad hair either. 🏒🥅🏆
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Gilbert not quite 20 years ago. I was a bartender on the east side. He came in with a small group of people. I recognized him immediately of course. He came up to the bar and order for his group. I took the order and said " not for nothing, and I promise I won't say a word, but aren't you Rod Gilbert"? He didn't miss a beat and said in his french accent " No no no I am Jack Nicholson". We both broke out in loud laughter. Everyone in the bar turned and looked at us. I told him how much he meant to my father and I. That I wore number 7 my whole childhood no matter the sport. He asked me for a pen and something to write on and wrote the nicest note to my father. When he and his friends were getting ready to leave he pulled me aside and we talked again for a moment. Then he shook my hand and said what a pleasure it was to meet me. His pleasure to meet me? His Hall of Fame Hockey career was equally matched by his Hall of Fame Philanthropy. The definition of a great guy. When he walked out I opened my hand, two fresh one hundred dollar bills were folded up in my palm. Rod you are so loved by so many. And will be missed immensely.
What a great story!!
Frank
@The Goods -He wasn’t a phoney and appreciated the fans who supported the team. A great hockey player and ambassador for the Rangers. Now about the many woman in his life……you’ll have to ask Brad Park about that!
Wow ! What a lucky guy you were...Great memories for sure....I just read Gilles Gratton's book and he only had good things to say about Rod.
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing
Rod Gilbert the classiest Ranger. The best!
Rod Gilbert was my favorite hockey player.He will always be a New York Ranger,thank you for the memories Rod,R.I.P.
interestingly his career almost never happened--while playing Jr. hockey in Guelph, Ontario he slipped on some garbage on the ice and broke his back-he required spinal fusion and post-operatively developed a blood clot that almost killed him. Emile Francis was with him during this and pleaded with the doctors to save him. Thank God that Mr. Gilbert recovered and was able to go on to a stellar career with the Rangers (until that idiot Phil Esposito essentially forced him to retire when he came to the Rangers and took over in management)
For me i think of all the greatest NY Sports heros that played in the 70s and 80s the most exciting to watch in day to day play in any sport and the most honorable was Rod Gilbert.....I will go to my grave thinking that.....thanks Rod.....i will never forget any of it.....
One of my favorite hockey players and a class act🙏✝️🏒
Mr.Gilbert will be missed for how he talked to people and the advice he gave to people and i got to meet him in Kitchener Ontario
My childhood idol will always be alive in my heart. RIP Rod ...mission accomplished.
Wonderful tribute to a Ranger legend.
I was in h.s. in New Jersey in 1966 and didn't know squat about hockey, but my classmates Jay Delmaster and Tom McAneny were big fans of the Rangers, and I caught the hockey fever, and it was such a blessing to have that new interest...hockey and the Rangers. When we moved to Calif in 1967, the Kings franchise began and I would always attend when the Rangers were in town. Now Kings and Rangers are still my favorite teams, so when L.A. beat N.Y. a few yrs. ago in the Finals for the Cup....it was a huge sports thrill for an old fan like me.
Number 7, i saw him play at the garden in October, 1969!! Absolutely awesome!!
Thanks for the wonderful hockey memories, R.I.P. Mr. Ranger. You are gone, but not forgotten !!!!
One of the greats of his period that sometimes gets put back behinds The Orr’s, Hull’, Howe’s, Esposito’s ect…I can honestly say that against Boston, he never took a night off and still played hard on lopsided games. Great skill with the puck, he could about do it all minus the speed.
Rod was my all time favorite athlete. He wrote an article for Jock (NY sports late 60s-early 70s) magazine in the fall of 69. He said that when he was playing junior hockey he was invited to spring training by the Milwaukee Braves but declined because his hockey season wasn't over. It had a picture of him sitting in a field box seat in an empty Shea Stadium with a suit on and his feet up. He wondered what it would have been like playing for the Mets, they had just won the World Series. So many great memories; the last game of the 70-71 season when he scored his 30th goal for the first time in his career right in front of me. I was also at his last game when he scored his last goal. It wasn't until he died that I found out he was 2nd only to Gordie Howe in lifetime points by a right wing when he retired.
I interviewed him in the MSG locker room by a great stroke of luck. He was a class act.
Loved Rod....Met him at Home Depot Expo in Carle Place with his wife 10 years ago...he was long retired and no one recognized him but me. I went up and asked him for an autograph on my receipt and he wanted to know if he could get a bite. The Home Depot Expos were an attempt at a more upscale store so they had a decent coffee shop in them. We had lunch while his wife shopped. The word got around and a few of the workers came over to meet him. When they did, he acknowledged who was but I told them please guys, I'm trying to have some private time with my Dad ! They were cool and left us alone. Rod laughed. To me, the most important questions were about The Summit Series in 72. He had some amazing stories about that series and I remembered that he had a critical fight in Game 7 of that series (very out of character for him) but it turned the tide in that game (together with Paul Henderson who was on fire in that series). Great guy...God Bless
Mr. Gilbert was, is and will always me my favorite hockey player . Back in the day 3 pro athletes took NYC by storm, Mickey Mantle, Frank Gifford and Rod Gilbert, he undoubtedly is Mr Ranger
RIP Rocky!
Rod was my childhood idol. A great man and an amazing hockey player. I ran into him many times in the hallways of the garden and he always stopped to shake hands. I never bothered him for an autograph because I thought he was immortal and would always be there. RIP Rod you were amazing on and off ice.
❤️❤️❤️
Great documentary on one of the greatest in the game. Rod Gilbert, Guy Lafleur and Derek Sanderson...the 70's rock stars of Hockey. Not bad hair either. 🏒🥅🏆
Increasable story ! Lucky #7 - RIP.
I am a guy but I thought that the best looking hockey player was the late Rod Gilbert
Hi