The Impossible To Solve Rangers Riddle has only been solved by one person. Here's the riddle: "When was a Ranger NOT a Ranger? The solution belongs to Joltin' Joe Dionisio, who runs Santa Barbara's Ice In Paradise rinks and formerly was an ace columnist and critic at Newsday. Okay, Joltin' Joe: When WAS a Ranger NOT a Ranger? "It came about," Joltin' Joe explains, "during the 1986 Entry Draft when the Blueshirts GM Craig Patrick was picking in the tenth round. His choice then was a London Knights defenseman who – I believe – was chosen not for his skill but presumably as a lark. "His name was Joe Ranger and he came from Sudbury, Ontario. However, he never played a game at The Garden which killed the surreal opportunity for Sam Rosen to announce: 'RANGERS' RANGER SCORES A POWER PLAY GOAL!'" Dionisio points out that although this particular Ranger never got a cup of coffee in the bigs, his name did become a marketing ploy. Stan Fischler talks about Matt Rempe. Joltin' Joe: "After stints with the London Knights and Windsor Spitfires, he later skated for the Kitchener Rangers, whose announcers must have had a field day with his name." Which begs the question: Could Rangers GM Chris Drury ever find another stickhandler named Ranger to play for the Rangers? According to my Rangers Name Vice President Dionisio, the answer is "YES!" Except this one is a goaltender. "Believe or not," Joltin Joe concludes, "this guy plays goal for the University of Prince Edward Island. And like the original Joe Ranger he's an OHL alumnus who previously manned the nets for the Sudbury Wolves." Oh, yeah, his name also happens to be JOE RANGER!
