I was invited to The New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers game viewing party sponsored by The Madison Garden Network and the MGM Casino. It was huge fun (all-you-can eat and drink) event with Plenty of hockey fans attending to watch the Rangers clinch a play-off spot by beating the flyers. The best part of the night was meeting Hall of Fame Goaltender Eddie Giacomin, and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Adam Graves. Both Players have the Numbers Retired by The New York Rangers.

The MGM Casino at Foxwoods put on a Spectacular night for all invited. The night included wonderful food, raffles, and hockey trivia prizes. Plus a question and answer session with the NHL stars there to watch the game. I also had the good fortune of having

Ed Giacomin autograph a portrait of himself that I had done for my collection of NHL Hall of Fame Goalies, I love old school hockey!

   ADAM GRAVES:

After spending several seasons in the minor leagues, Graves made his National Hockey League debut with the Red Wings in the 1988–89 season, playing in 56 games and scoring 7 goals. The next year he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he gained a reputation as a hard-nosed player, compiling over 120 penalty minutes in both seasons he spent with the team. It was there that he won his first Stanley Cup championship.

After joining former teammate Mark Messier in New York via free agency, his goal production increased markedly. In the 1993–94 season, he scored 52 goals to set the Rangers' club record for most goals in a season at that time; his efforts earned him a place on the NHL All-Star team.

That spring he cemented his popularity with the New York fans by playing a vital role in the team's first Stanley Cup championship in 54 years. That year he was also awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his work with charities. Although the Rangers' fortunes would wane over the next few years as they sank into mediocrity after the 1997 – 1998 NHL season, he remained one of the most popular players. In June 2001, after winning the Bill Masterton Trophy, he was traded to San Jose, where he finished his career.

Graves is now an instructor at the New York Rangers youth hockey camp. On February 3, 2009, the New York Rangers retired Graves' Number 9 jersey before a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, joining fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Brian Leetch, Mark Messier and Mike Richter, as well as Ranger greats Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.

EDDIE GIACOMIN: 

Giacomin was impressive in his first month as Rangers goaltender, but faltered thereafter, and lost his starting job in New York. The following season he improved markedly, leading the NHL in shutouts and backstopping the Rangers to only their second playoff berth in nine seasons.

A classic stand-up goaltender and a skilled stickhandler known for leaving the crease to play the puck, Giacomin would be the Rangers' starting goaltender for the next nine seasons, leading the league in games played four straight years from 1967, in shutouts in 1967, 1968 and 1971, and sharing the Vezina Trophy with partner Gilles Villemure in 1971. Typical of his bravery was in a game in the 1971 playoffs against Chicago when Bobby Hull skated over the back of his hand. Eddie did not leave the game, and when the Rangers won the game, even the Black Hawks used the word "guts" to describe his courage. During this stretch the Rangers had a string of success second only to the powerful Boston Bruins, the pinnacle of which was making it to the Stanley Cup finals in 1972, losing to the Bruins in a hard-fought six game series.