European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 1, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday monday january 1/2, 1995 in review the stars and stripes Pago 41 nil Arenas remain dark after rangers Day in Sun by Ken Rappoport a hockey writer the new York rangers got the Job done in 1994. But then the whole nil could t get started. While the league got an image lift from the rangers first Stanley cup Victory in 54 years a labor dispute Between owners and players seemed to wipe out All the positive Public relations a a the nil was never More popular a a 1. 9 a following the rangers conscious raising iry Over the a a finals Victory Over the Vancouver canucks in the finals last Spring. The rangers i championship capped one of the most thrilling playoffs Ever Ana a news Makin season in which Wayne Gretzky broke Gordie Howe a career nil goal record. With interest up the league signed its first network television Gretzky Deal in two decades Over the summer. But with one season ending on a High note another one was unable to get started on time because of a lockout by owners that silenced the nil for the longest period in its.77-year history. Given an Opportunity to capitalize on the sudden sports dearth caused by the baseball strike the nil struck out. A contract dispute resulted in a 10-Day strike by players two years ago before an agreement salvaged the rest of the season and the playoffs. But that dispute was trivial when compared with the problems in 1994, which first Short Concu and then threatened to cancel the season. The nil was at risk to become the first North american professional sports league to lose an entire season. The latest Tabor problems were propelled by the same two words that ended the baseball season six weeks prematurely salary Cap. A there has been no agreement Between players and owners since sept. 15, 1993, and nil commissioner Gary buttman refused to Start the 1994-95 season without a pact in place that. Would slow Down the dramatic Rise in. Salaries. Balt Many a mandate remained firm despite an i offer from players logo ahead with the season under a no strike no lockout pledge. A \ the players found temporary work elsewhere some i went to the minors some to Europe and others staged i exhibition games for Charity. Gretzky took a team of nil players on a seven game tour of Norway Sweden i and Germany. If nothing else the nil could look Back on one of its most interesting and bizarre seasons i the longest dry spell in nil history finally came to in end when the rangers won their first cup since j 1940 and Only the fourth in their luckless history i nothing came easy for them. Although they had the 5 leagues Best record during the regular season they proved they weren to that much better in. The playoffs than the canucks who finished with the ,j4th-Best, or the new Jersey devils who finished no. 2. _ \ in fact the rangers were on the verge of bowing out in the conference finals. One game away from elimination by the devils the rangers won the last two games including a double overtime thriller Over new Jersey. At Madison Square Garden. _ the rangers climbed into the finals behind Captain a Mark Messier who a guaranteed Quot a game ,6 Victory in new Jersey and then produced wit i three goals in the. Final period. The rangers by contrast had the canucks where they wanted them and almost blew it. Ahead in the Besl-of-7 finals three games to one the rangers allowed the canucks to tic the series and Send it Back to Mark Messier becomes the first new York Ranger in 54 years to accept the Stanley cup. New York for a decisive game 7. New York won 3-2, but were under tremendous pressure from the canucks at the end. Then coach Mike Keenan did the unexpected announcing he was leaving the team. Keenan a excuse was that the rangers Hadnot fulfilled contractual obligations by not paying his Bonus on time for winning the cup. But it was largely perceived As an Opportunity for him to leave an unhappy situation a a Keenan presumably wanted More Power than just being coach. He got it when he wound up in St. Louis a was the blues coach and general manager. But he also got a $100,000 Fine and 60-Day suspension for what the Teague considered inappropriate behaviour. T hat was nothing compared to the behaviour of Bruce Mcnall who was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the nil Board of governors and his presidency in the los Angeles Kings As the result of a financial scandal. Mcnall faced  after pleading guilty to defrauding several Banks of $236 million. Actually there Wasny to much positive news from the a a nil Over the summer other than its new to Deal. T he nil signed a five year contract with the Box network and expanded its agreement with Lson which spotlighted some minor league games on one of its channels while nil Arenas were dark. A. A a in the minors Portland won the Calder cup in the american hockey league Atlanta the Lurner cup championship in the International 1 Hokey Lead Urvand Toledo the Kilcy cup championship in the Bast coast hockey league. Apuls a a a. A a fun map Sergei Fedorov of Detroit hockey 94 champs Stanley cup a now York rang orb. Conn a Mylo trophy Stanley cup map. A Brian Hootch now York rangers Hart trophy map Sergio Fedorov Detroit. Vezina trophy. Goalie a a Domaruk Hrasok  Dor trophy Rookie. A Martin. Bro. Dour now Jossoy. Norris trophy dozens Oman. _ Ray. Bourqul Boston lady Byng trophy sportsmanship. Wayno Grotzky los angolan Seiko trophy defensive Forward a of. Do of a a a a a a a a. Adams award coach of the year a Jacques Lemauro now Jersey v Mcaa division i a Lake Superior slate Mcaa division it Bemidji state Minn. Mcaa division til a we Sconsan River Falls Juco a  Hobey Baker award Chris mar Lucel Minno Bota Duluth world championships a Canada _. Olympics Sweden a Fife cup winning Mike Keenan ends up with the blues