Ron Greschner

By Matt Simo

The New York Rangers and New York Islanders made history on March 24th with the broadcast of the first-ever NHL game in 3D.  MSG delivered the ground-breaking picture to roughly 2,500 viewers at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, including Rangers alumni Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu, Dan Blackburn and Ron Greschner.

“MSG has been a leader in delivering emerging technology to our viewers, and a leader in high quality original programming, including a record 64 Emmy nominations this year,” said Michael Bair, president, MSG Media.  “We were the first regular providers of high-definition sports telecasts with Knicks and Rangers games more than a decade ago, and we’re excited to continue this tradition of providing the most innovative and creative telecasts to our audience.”

So how did it look?

“This 3D game was really amazing – shooting it from behind the goal, coming in from the corners were unbelievable,” Greschner said.  “I’m not sure if it will help sell the game or not, but it might make it more entertaining.  I enjoyed watching it like that.”

According to Greschner, the only part that still needs improvement is how the cameras capture the depth perception at center ice.  But he said he believes MSG is up for the challenge.

“If anybody can do it, Madison Square Garden can,” Greschner said.  “I think they’ll perfect it.”

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It’s hard to believe a kid from tiny Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, population of 200-plus, would become the toast of Manhattan.

That’s exactly what Ron Greschner did. The son of a hotelier, the only hotel in the tiny farming community, Greschner not only went to become a popular hero of Manhattan, but married supermodel Carol Alt, owned trendy restaurants, guest-starred on TV shows Ryan’s Hope and The Nanny and was a judge at a Miss Universe contest.

Manhattan’s Finest

Gresch was a big but mobile defenseman who was playing against senior players aged 20 and over when he was just 12 years old. By 1974 he was an established WHL star out of New Westminster, and was drafted 32nd overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. He quickly established himself as a NHL star blessed with size and skating. He would run the Rangers power play in the era between Brad Park and Brian Leetch.

He lacked the polish of those two legends, which holds him back in history’s eyes. But those who played with him disagree.

“I mean no disrespect to guys like Brian Leetch and Mike Richter,” said Tom Laidlaw, a former defensive partner, “but playing his whole career there, doing the things he did and the points he put up, Greschner belong in the same category as them. He was a quiet leader but definitely proud to be a Ranger.”

Lack of team success never helped either. Outside of an unexpected Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1979, the Rangers never really challenged for much in Greschner’s days. Had the Rangers been a true top team during Greschner’s time, his status may very well have landed him as a Hockey Hall of Famer.

New York loved Ron Greschner, and Ron Greschner loved New York equally in return. “There is no other city. The rest of the world is a suburb,” he would say.

The Natural

“He was probably one of the most naturally talented guys we had and also the most likeable guy you would ever want to meet,” said long time teammate Pat Hickey.

A hockey natural is a great way to describe him. He was a super stickhandler with a good shot. He was big and aggressive, though not necessarily strong or punishing. He was a smart skater, gifted in his balance and lateral mobility, although he lacked speed. His ice savvy was his biggest asset, able to read plays developing from either end of the ice and to be in the right spot at the right time.

In 982 career games, all with the Rangers, Ron Greschner scored 179 goals, 431 assists and 610 points. In 84 post season contests he added 17 goals and 49 points.

Posted by Joe Pelletier @ Greatest Hockey Legends.com

Defenceman Ron Greschner was a splendid puckhandler with a dangerous shot who could also play efficiently in his own zone. He played nearly 1,000 regular season games for the New York Rangers between 1974 and 1990.

Born in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, Greschner was selected 32nd overall by the Rangers in 1974 after accumulating 182 points in three years of junior with the WCJHL’s New Westminster Bruins. In 1974 he was named to the league’s first all-star team based on his 103-point season. The young blueliner scored 45 points as an NHL rookie in 1974-75 and never looked back.

Through the end of the 1986-87 season Greschner was a key figure in the Blueshirts’ transition game and power play. He was one of the most popular rearguards to ever play on Manhattan and reached the 20-goal mark four times. In 1978-79 he was an alternate on the NHL all-star team when they faced their counterparts from the USSR. A few weeks later he scored 12 points in 18 games as the Rangers reached the finals for the first time since 1972.

In 1979-80 Greschner scored 21 goals and participated in the NHL all-star game. Though the Rangers rarely made noise in the playoffs, he was a consistent performer for the club. By the late 80s young players like Brian Leetch played the point on the power play and keyed the club’s transitional flow. Greschner spent his last three NHL seasons providing leadership and savvy in his own zone before retiring in 1990.

Read his profile at LegendsofHockey.net