Rangers legend Sam Rosen named 2024 Lester Patrick Trophy honoree
Legendary New York Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen has been named as the recipient of the 2024 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
The award was created in 1966 by the Rangers to honor former general manager and coach Lester Patrick. Today, the award is given to a player, coach, official, or other league-related personnel who has made significant contributions to the development of hockey in the United States.
The choice to honor Rosen, isn’t much of a surprise, as the 77-year-old broadcaster’s hockey career has spanned decades. In his 40 seasons with the Rangers, Rosen has been both witness to and a part of many significant moments in franchise history. That includes the 1994 Stanley Cup Final when Rosen provided the iconic call in the final seconds of Game 7, “The waiting is over! The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!”
Rosen was born in Germany, and his family immigrated to Brooklyn when he was two years old. Growing up in New York, Rosen became passionate about sports and played baseball, attended Knicks games at Madison Square Garden, and became a lifelong Giants fan. But one sport and one team brought out an even deeper passion from Rosen, he realized his love for the Rangers and the sport of hockey was something special.
From practicing play-by-play at games at the Garden as a child to mentoring with Rangers broadcaster Jim Gordon as a young professional, Rosen was determined to fulfill his dream of working with the Rangers organization. In 1984, he took the reins from Gordon and never looked back. He’s become a staple in New York sports culture and a beloved figure for generations of Rangers fans.
Related: Rangers bold predictions for 2024-25 season
This will be Sam Rosen’s final season calling Rangers games
In August, Rosen announced that the 2024-25 season would be his last. The broadcaster is hoping that the team will make his final season a memorable one, saying, “I realize that I’ve touched a lot of people and it’s now time to say thank you very much and put a big, big bow on it because I think everyone is in agreement at the Garden and at the network that this will be a big finish and I’m hoping the Rangers will have a big year to cap it all off.”
Rosen spoke with Forever Blueshirts this summer about retirement and called it a “bittersweet decision, but one he won’t regret.
“There are mixed emotions because this has been such a huge part of my life for so long,” Rosen told our Jim Cerny on the Rink Rap podcast. “Every year I’d wake up and know I’ve got Rangers hockey … that was always in front of me. Now, it’s coming down toward the end. The feeling is bittersweet because I know the time has arrived.”
Rosen’s contributions to the sport go beyond the greater NYC area as he’s become an influential figure in the sportscasting, US hockey, and Jewish communities. Many have learned the game of hockey from listening to Rosen’s calls. Throughout his career, he’s covered a variety of sports and events including college baseball, NFL, boxing, and even table tennis. He received the Foster Hewitt Award in 2016 and was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame this summer.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman noted that, “After four decades, Sam Rosen’s golden pipes, dedication to his craft and unabashed passion for our game as the television voice of the New York Rangers still resonate … As fine a man as he is a broadcaster, and for a career spent in remarkable service to the game in the United States, Sam Rosen is a worthy recipient of the 2024 Lester Patrick Trophy.”
Since the Rangers season opener Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins air nationally on TNT, Rosen will wait to begin his final season behind the mic. His first call in 2024-25 will be Saturday on MSG Network, the Rangers home opener against the Utah Hockey Club.
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