Messier, nicknamed "The Captain," was joined Thursday by 19 family members as well as friends, coaches and teammates from the 1994 Stanley Cup champions as the New York Rangers retired his No. 11 to the rafters of Madison Square Garden in a stirring 75-minute ceremony.
Ed Giacomin, Rod Gilbert and Mike Richter, the remaining three Rangers to have their numbers retired, also drew ovations from the boisterous sellout crowd while former teammate (and future honouree) Brian Leetch spoke at length via video.
"Someone actually said, you played with Eddie Giacomin, didn't you?" Messier quipped.
Mark Messier and family watch as his No. 11 is raised to the rafters at MSG. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin III)
"I want to thank you for inviting me here on Mark Messier Night, sponsored by Kleenex," Richter joked, referring to Messier's penchant for sobbing at emotional gatherings.
Messier's reputation is well-deserved as he began to cry upon being introduced.
"No individual can stand alone in a team sport," he said. "And I have been so blessed."
New York's Stanley Cup triumph in 1994 ended 54 years of futility for the long-suffering Rangers and transformed Messier from local hero to living legend.
"Mark brought the level of hockey to another dimension in New York," Gilbert said. "When they won, it just felt like we won."
"He brought something to New York that Rod and I have never brought to New York and that's winning the Stanley Cup," Giacomin noted.
Dana Reeve, wife of the late actor Christopher Reeve, a long-time Rangers fan, paid tribute by singing "Now and Forever" as a slideshow of Messier's most memorable moments played on the video scoreboard.
"I will never forget the 10 years I had the honour to be the captain of the New York Rangers," he said.
Messier, who turns 45 on Jan. 18, confirmed his retirement as the Rangers reported for training-camp physicals last fall.
But management chose not to honour him until the Rangers played host to the Edmonton Oilers, his first NHL team and with whom he won the other five of his six Stanley Cups.
He is the only player to captain two franchises to Stanley Cups - Edmonton in 1990 and New York in 1994.
"He made us believe that the Stanley Cup was our destiny," said Adam Graves, who spoke on behalf of the 20 teammates on hand.
"He changed the culture. He made us stronger as players, stronger as a team and stronger as an organization."
Messier concluded his NHL career ranked second overall behind the incomparable Wayne Gretzky in regular-season points (1,887) and playoff points (295).
A 16-time all-star, he scored 694 goals in 1,856 games over 25 NHL seasons with the Oilers, Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.
with files from CP Online
