April 4, 2001
The Captain's First Ceremony ...
Captain Mark Messier had returned to the Rangers for the 2000-01 season and had the opportunity to take part in his
first "Blueshirts Off Our Backs" ceremony following the
April 4, 2001, home game vs. the Carolina Hurricanes.
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Mark Messier, whose No. 11 would be retired just under five years later, removes his jersey for a very lucky young fan who received it in the first "Blueshirts Off Our Backs" ceremony involving Messier.
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Participating in his final "Blueshirts Off Our Backs" event, Adam Graves hands his No. 9 jersey over to a young fan after the 2000-01 regular-season finale.
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Mike Richter missed the April 4, 2001, game due to knee injury that required season-ending surgery, but it couldn't keep No. 35 out of the "Blueshirts" ceremony.
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Brian Leetch poses with the second recipient of a No. 2 jersey in "Blueshirts Off Our Backs". Only four No. 2s were ever distributed since the number is now retired.
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Mike York chats with a lucky fan who claimed his No. 18 jersey at the end of the 2000-01 season. This was York's second and final "Blueshirts Off Our Backs".
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MORE PLAYERS FROM 2001:
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Guy Hebert
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Manny Malhotra
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Sandy McCarthy
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Peter Smrek
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