The Rangers invited first responders to their home opener Oct. 7, 2001, which New York won 5-4 in overtime.
"I was working in the Bronx. The general manager for the fire department hockey team called and said the Rangers were inviting us down for the home opener," McGee said. "Bring your sticks, bring your gloves, bring your skates and bring your jersey. I'm like, ‘Nobody is saying anything about bringing our helmets, in the fire department you wear your helmet,' The helmet is the staple of a fireman, that's the only thing that separates you from other rescue workers, is the helmet.
"There was a picture of Chief (Raymond) Downey in the firehouse and I made a copy and put it on the front of my helmet and brought it down, thinking that if I get a chance, I'm going to sneak this on the ice and wear it."
Chief Downey died in the World Trade Center twin tower collapse Sept. 11, 2021. He was 63.
"Chief Downey was a legend in the fire department," McGee said. "He was the guy you wanted at any tragedy. You wanted Chief Downey there, because he was going to get it done. He just loved the FDNY, but his No. 1 passion might have been ice hockey.
"So, after 9/11, Chief Downey should have been at the command post for the entire operation, but he was in the building with his men when the collapse happened."
At the game, McGee skated on to the ice with the firefighter helmet and joined the rest of the FDNY hockey team on the opposing blue line.
Then the Rangers were introduced individually, and Messier as captain, was the last player on the ice.
"It just happened that Mark did not have a helmet on," McGee said. "On a whim, I said to my co-captain, I'm going to skate over and ask Messier if he'll wear the helmet. He goes, ‘What? That's not a good idea.'"
McGee did it regardless. He skated over to Messier prior to the national anthem and offered him the firefighter helmet with the picture of Chief Downey on it.
"I thought he was just coming over there to shake my hand. And he did shake my hand, but then he said, ‘We would love you to wear Chief Downey's helmet,'" Messier said. "At that point I'm thinking to myself, am I worthy of putting that helmet on? He goes, ‘No, no, no, put the helmet on, we would all really appreciate it.'"
Messier wore the helmet, honoring the memory of Chief Downey and the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who died that day.
"He was this legendary hockey player who has six Stanley Cups, and who could have expected that," McGee said.
McGee and Messier were reunited for the show 25 years later and discussed that emotional moment in one of the segments.
"It turned out to be a moment that will last forever and I'm glad to be a part of it. I'm glad to represent," Messier said. "I think there are certain people in your life that are great reminders about the importance of giving back. Chief Downey was an amazing guy."
McGee was excited to see Messier for the first time since that moment on the ice in 2021.
"Seeing him here is emotional," McGee said. "Sports has always seemed to find a way to transcend any tragedy. There's just something about sport, whatever sport. For us it was hockey, it was the Rangers, it was Mark. It meant a lot."
