Rod Gilbert

Rodrigue Gabriel Gilbert (July 1, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played his entire career with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Born in Montreal to Alma, a homemaker, and Gabriel Gilbert, a blacksmith, he grew up a fan of the Montreal Canadiens. He played three seasons of junior hockey for the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1957 to 1960. During his final year with the team, Gilbert slipped on garbage strewn on the ice and fell back into the boards, breaking a vertebra in his back and temporarily paralyzing him. Corrective surgery went awry and led to hemorrhaging in his leg; doctors feared amputation would be necessary, but he recovered. He finished his junior career with the Guelph Royals before joining the Rangers.

A right wing, Gilbert skated on the GAG line, or Goal-A-Game line, alongside Vic Hadfield and Jean Ratelle. He became known as "Mr. Ranger" and was the first player in Rangers history to have his number retired. After his playing career, he served as president of the Rangers' alumni association. Gilbert was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.