Leetch recalls beginnings in hockey, run to Stanley Cup with Rangers in Q&A

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday.

This week looks back to when the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers were spearheaded by captain Mark Messier and defenseman Brian Leetch. Considered by many to be the greatest United States-born player, Leetch shared the Lester Patrick Award ceremonies with Fischler in 2007. The following is compiled from many interviews with the Hockey Hall of Famer.

Who got you started in hockey?

"I was lucky. My father (Jack Leetch) was the first manager of the Cheshire Skating Center in Connecticut when I was about 6 years old. He coached me through mites, squirts, pee wees and bantams. He was the biggest influence on my career because he provided my transportation and on the rides all we'd do is talk about hockey. He and my mom (Janice) also taught me to be responsible and to respond to my elders. The bottom line is that I had a solid foundation at home."

What did you do after practices and in the offseason?

"My friends and I always played street hockey. In those days we didn't get a chance to see a great deal of hockey live, but we tried to play it every single chance we could get, whether it was on the street, driveways or on the ice."

How close did you come to picking baseball over hockey?

"I played a lot of baseball up through my high school years. I was a pitcher and did well because I could throw hard, but when it came to hockey or baseball, it was no contest because the way I saw it, as a pitcher my whole career was dependent on my arm, and I realized that my arm could go any time. Plus, my key friendships were involved in hockey, and I enjoyed the sport more from the team aspect. My goal was a college scholarship."

What were your choices?

"I wanted to go to Boston College. My dad went there, and I had friends who went to BC. My father insisted that I look at other schools and I did, New Hampshire, Providence and Boston University. But in the end, I chose BC and never regretted the move because I was able to make it to the U.S. National Team and then our Olympic team in 1987-88. It was both fun and a grind, but it was worthwhile in the end because my target was getting to the NHL."

How did you react to your rookie NHL season?

"It was an exciting time because I arrived in the homestretch of the 1987-88 season. We were in a neck and neck battle for a (Stanley Cup Playoff) berth with the (New Jersey) Devils but they beat us out on the final night of the season. By that time, I had gotten a taste of tough, big-league hockey. During one game in New Jersey, I got into a fight with the Devils' Pat Verbeek. It was unusual for me in that I wasn't one to get into many fights, but that particular game was highly charged, and things got a bit wild, me and Pat included."

Once you were established in the NHL, what were your goals?

"For sure, winning [the] Stanley Cup. I aimed for consistency game in and game out. I wanted to be the best that I could be. I felt that if I had an off night -- who doesn't? -- I didn't want it to be a liability to the team. What it really came down to was mental preparation. I saw that in stars such as defensemen Chris Chelios and Ray Bourque. To me, they epitomized that trait, and I strove to look at myself and say that I achieved that kind of consistency. That meant that I really accomplished something."

What did you make of comparisons between you and Bobby Orr?

"I thought it was ridiculous. There was only one Bobby Orr. He dominated the game and also changed the style that defensemen like myself adopted. In terms of the offensive part of my game, I always felt that if I got a chance, I liked to shoot, but at the same time, I always looked to pass if there was an opportunity. I liked drawing someone to me and then I would set up a teammate. I had this theory that you didn't score too many goals when the goaltender was looking at you."

You played for the Rangers when New York Islanders fans chanted '1940'.

"Having grown up in Connecticut, I knew that the Rangers had not won the Stanley Cup for a long time. I knew all about the 'jinx' talk and that we never would win the big prize, so '1940' became a source of motivation for us, especially in the 1993-94 season. We had a very good team that season with Mark Messier as captain and some Edmonton guys like Kevin Lowe and Glenn Anderson who came to New York in trades with the Oilers. We went into the '94 playoffs and knocked off the Islanders in four straight with the clincher at their barn."

Describe what it was like to win the Cup.

"Professionally, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Hockey wise, it was a great source of satisfaction to achieve it as a New York Ranger. After all, it had been since 1940 that our fans didn't have the pleasure of a Cup victory. Also, it was huge that we were able to win it at home, but really, you have to personally experience it to understand the joy and all the other fun stuff that went with it after we beat Vancouver."

How long does that winning feeling last?

"My experience was that I lost it after a few weeks because the initial feeling was such a personal high. It was only natural for it to evaporate because you're only in such a winning place for a short time."

What was Messier like as a teammate?

"Special! Watching him both on and off the ice, I admired how much he was respected as well as what a great player he was. He came from a hockey family and as a result, Mark had a great respect for the game. He knew what it took to be the best night in and night out. Mark and I were together a lot."

Having a son who is a Cup winner must have been a feather in your dad's cap?

"Most definitely. After we got our Stanley Cup ring, I wore it for a short time. After that, I gave it to my dad. He meant so much to me both privately and in my career that I thought it only fitting that he wears the ring. Better still, he wore it quite often after that."