The New York Rangers are joining the NHL trend of wearing uniform patches – and they're doing it for their centennial season and in partnership with GAME7, a sports and entertainment brand co-founded by Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier.
The patch will be featured on all home and away Rangers jerseys, including the centennial sweaters, beginning with their first preseason game against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. It features the GAME7 logo in blue with white lettering on the right shoulder. The patches will also appear on jerseys sold at Madison Square Garden's in-arena store locations.
The three-year agreement with GAME7, announced on the same day the Rangers named center J.T. Miller as the 29th captain in franchise history, marks the first time the Blueshirts have brought a brand partner directly onto the jersey in their 100-year history.
Messier was the captain of the Rangers team that ended the franchise's 54-year Stanley Cup drought by defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the 1994 Final – with No. 11 scoring what proved to be the Cup-winning goal in the 3-2 victory at Madison Square Garden. They also won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils at the Garden to reach the Final.
He said the significance of partnering with the Rangers isn't lost on him, especially in their centennial season.
"For me, the Rangers will always be family, and Madison Square Garden will always feel like home," Messier said. "To now see GAME 7 — something we built with the same passion and commitment to greatness that defined my years on the ice — become part of the Rangers' journey is incredibly meaningful. This partnership unites a legendary franchise, the world's most iconic arena and a brand created to inspire people to rise to their greatest challenges.
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"As the Rangers celebrate 100 years, it's an honor to play a role in connecting the team's history with its future and to help bring even more unforgettable experiences to fans who have always been at the heart of this organization."
The NHL began allowing teams to wear sponsor patches in 2022-23 as a way for teams to generate revenue. Entering the 2024-25 season, there were nine teams that did not have a jersey sponsor patch. The Utah Hockey Club (now the Utah Mammoth) was the only team without a helmet sponsor last season.
The idea with this patch was to make it look as if it was always a part of the jersey and not just randomly affixed. GAME 7 co-founder Mat Vlasic said the process to finalize the patch was "literally one pass and everyone agreed.
"I fancy myself as somewhat creative, and you want to try multiple things, never want to just have one option. But it literally was that," he said. "It was the first pass, and that rarely happens. To launch this partnership with Madison Square Garden and bring Mark back home is a defining moment for all of us. Together, we'll create unforgettable experiences for Rangers fans both on and off the ice."
To MSG Sports chief operating officer Jamaal Lesane, the relationship between the Rangers and Messier made the deal a perfect fit.
"Our search for a partner that would be so deeply ingrained in both the Rangers and Madison Square Garden led us directly to GAME 7, which we believe is an absolutely perfect fit," he said. "We have a deep-seated relationship with GAME 7 co-founder and Rangers legend Mark Messier, which makes this such a genuine, natural alignment.
"Mark and his team at GAME 7 have created something special and as our organization embarks on our centennial season, we look forward to continued collaboration for years to come."
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