Rangers journey leads Jim Cerny to Forever Blueshirts
Growing up in Queens, Marv Albert provided the soundtrack for my childhood, calling New York Rangers games on the radio. Little did I know then that years later I’d be working for the Rangers alongside his son, Kenny, at Madison Square Garden and NHL arenas across the U.S. and Canada.
Similarly, I got to know Rod Gilbert really well during my “Blueshirts United” tenure with the Rangers. That’s the same Rod Gilbert who – along with Steve Vickers and Brad Park – signed my scraps of paper after a skate at a rink on Hillside Avenue in New Hyde Park when I was a youngster.
In my teens, Don Maloney was my favorite Blueshirt. Coincidentally, he was general manager of the Islanders when I began broadcasting for them.
Donnie wasn’t the only Rangers connection during my stint as play-by-play voice for the Isles. That was me on the call when Dan Cloutier pummeled Tommy Salo in a wild goalie fight at Nassau Coliseum. And a few years later, I called Wayne Gretzky’s final goal in the NHL, at MSG against Wade Flaherty and the Islanders.
Before that I was a reporter covering the Rangers. I was there for Matteau! Matteau! Matteau! and This One Will Last A Lifetime!
Later, I was so fortunate to be embedded daily with the Rangers – every game, practice, team and League event – as their in-house digital beat reporter. That gave me a front row seat to the brilliance of Henrik Lundqvist, the Black and Blueshirts, Torts and AV, three conference finals, the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and more fun memories than I can count with “Biron’s Journal” and “Stepan Behind the Mic”!
Related: Rangers’ prospects at WJC discussed in Q&A with NHL Network analyst Dave Starman
Jim Cerny joins Forever Blueshirts as Executive Editor
Now, after five years at NHL.com, my Rangers journey continues as Executive Editor with Forever Blueshirts. I am super excited to work alongside Anthony Scultore and the staff here to not only share insight, analysis and fun stories from the past but provide the same and more for the Rangers of today and tomorrow.
Some of what I do here, you won’t see. Editing, planning, managing. But I’ll be front and center writing news stories and columns and hosting podcasts, too. In fact, I’ve started already, as hopefully you’ve noticed. And next week, I’ll be in Toronto for all things Igor Shesterkin, Vincent Trocheck and Peter Laviolette (not to mention Cam Talbot, J.T. Miller and Alexandar Georgiev) at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.
Most importantly, I want to connect with you, the Rangers fans and readers of Forever Blueshirts. How can we best serve you as we build the ultimate Rangers community?
Contact me at [email protected]. Follow me on Twitter, @JimCerny.
Let’s Go!!
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