Jonathan Quick set to live childhood dream with first home start in a Rangers sweater
Jonathan Quick has been a member of the New York Rangers since July 1. Although tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, he’ll finally be making his first start on home ice wearing the sweater of the team he grew up loving.
The clutch goalie and winner of 3 Stanley Cup rings, hails from Milford, Connecticut and idolized 1994 Rangers’ Stanley Cup winning goalie Mike Richter. After spending most of his brilliant career with the Los Angeles Kings, he signed a one-year deal ($825,000 AAV) to backup Igor Shesterkin on Broadway.
“Growing up watching the Rangers as a kid, this is just an opportunity you can’t turn down,” Quick said via NHL.com. “Just want to make the most of it.”
At 37 years of age, Quick is embracing the decision he made by painting the famous “Hey, Hey, Hey” of the Rangers’ goal song to his helmet.
“It’ll be nice hearing as it’s been a few years since I enjoyed it,” Quick quipped at the start of camp. “I let my kid do the backplate. So I let my son come up with that idea and he likes the goal song.”
Related: Rangers face Red Wings
Jonathan Quick makes first home start
Quick is likely heading to the Hall of Fame at some point after his playing career is done. He currently holds a career record of 377-277-85 with a GAA of 2.46 and .911 save percentage. The veteran is off to a hot start for the Blueshirts, going 2-0-1, with a 1.42 GAA and a sparkling .948 save percentage.
He’s excited to be a Ranger,” GM Chris Drury, another Connecticut native, said in July. “[Quick] wanted to come play here and be a Ranger…We’re excited to have him.”
After a pretty rough preseason, Quick made his first appearance in relief of Igor Shesterkin in a loss to the Nashville Predators on Garden ice. It probably wasn’t how he envisioned debuting to the Rangers faithful, but he played well enough to earn his first start on October 21st to beat the Kraken in Seattle. He followed that up with a shutout against the Edmonton Oilers on the road a few days later (Oct. 26). The shutout was the 59th of his stellar career, making him the all-time leader for U.S. born goaltenders.
“He’s played really well,” head coach Peter Laviolette stated. “We have a lot of confidence in him with the way he’s started this season.”
As the Rangers continue this season with hopes of ending a long championship drought nearing 30 years, it’s nice to have a winner with a Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff mvp) on the roster. But tonight, a little boy lives out his dreams by starting for the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
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