Iceland was the noisiest NHL practice rink -- possibly ever!
Every time the New York Rangers step on the ice of their practice rink in Westchester they owe a bow of thanks to Madison Square Garden behind-the-scenes executive Joe Cohen.
Once head of MSG Networks, Joe was handed the challenge of building a super-duper practice palace for the hockey team -- and that he did. But what's so special is how it contrasted with the club's original zany scrimmage pond. So, here's the historic tidbit.
When the old MSG opened in 1925 on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, there was no such thing as a practice rink for manager Lester Patrick's stickhandlers.
READ MORE: HISTORY OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Only later did the Garden moguls decide to add a floor to the Eighth Avenue side of the arena and turn it into a public skating moneymaker. They called it Iceland and since it had ice, Patrick decided that his outfit -- as well as the New York Americans -- could use it.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS4t3wguGHM[/embed]
But Iceland had drawbacks.
* Size: It was much smaller than the Gaden's 85 by 185 foot ice surface.
* Windows: All along the Eighth Avenue length there were windows, and you know that windows do not like pucks.
* The Luncheonette: On the 49th Street side, the architects designed an eatery so that when the hockey teams practiced, you sip a cup of Java and enjoy the stickhandlers.
* The Noise: Normally the only sounds you hear at a normal scrimmage would be sticks hitting pucks and crunch of steel blade along the ice. But not in Iceland where someone sold MSG a bill of goods that boards should be made of aluminum and not wood. "It sounded like we were in a boiler factory every time we shot the pucks off the aluminum," said Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert. "A guy could go deaf in there."
Now you know why the current bunch of Blueshirts should be happy in their deluxe training rink!
rangers 30th