At the start of the 1945-46 season the Rangers were a wreck.
Nearly every member of the 1941-42 first place team had gone into the armed forces serving in World War II. It left Blueshirt fans with a bare bones roster to follow during the war years.
"By the time these players were released from war duty many were too old to play," said manager Frank Boucher.
Defenseman Art Coulter, who captained the 1940 Cup-winners, simply hung up his skates in 1945. Others, such as Phil Watson and Lynn Patrick, played for a season or two and then retired.
Boucher: "We had to build a farm system to restock our lineup. One of our best was in Guelph, Ontario' a Junior club, the Biltmore Mad Hatters. It was sponsored by the Biltmore hat company."
By the start of the 1950's it was one of the best Junior teams in Canada. Harry Howell, Lou Fontinato were the top defensemen while the best forward was right wing Andy Bathgate and foremost left wing, Dean Prentice. Aldo Guidolin was its leading defensive forward. Ron Murphy was an up-and-comer up front.
The Night The Maven Did Rangers Play By Play On Radio
Like Steve Albert, author of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Broadcast Booth," I, too, wanted to be a play-by-play announcer.
The Biltmores' crowning achievement was winning the Memorial Cup in 1952. The victory set the stage for Bathgate, Prentice, Guidolin, Howell, Fontinato and Murphy to become NHL regulars.
Of the glorious Guelph group, Bathgate and Howell made it to the Hall of Fame. Prentice should have been a Hall of Famer but sadly was overlooked.