When you think of the Rangers scoring, there are two words that come to mind. A long “whoa” and multiple “heys”.
New York has an iconic goal song that rings throughout Madison Square Garden when the team lights the lamp. It has been synonymous with the Rangers’ offense for years now and has become one of the most well-known goal songs in the league.
The song has been played at MSG for nearly 30 years now, and with the Rangers making a run to the Cup this season, fans have heard it plenty. Perhaps most notably was Artemi Panarin’s Game 7 overtime winner in the first round, sending the New York crowd into a frenzy and belting along to their goal song.
Here’s how the song became the anthem of Rangers hockey.
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Who created Slapshot?
“Slapshot” was written by Ray Castoldi, who has been the music director and organist at Madison Square Garden since 1989. Castoldi debuted the song on Jan. 20, 1995, the same night the Rangers raised the Cup banner from their 1994 win.
Why do they play Slapshot after every Rangers goal?
Goal songs have become a tradition in hockey. The home team scores, and a specific song belts out, rallying the crowd together in chant.
There have been a number of teams that have become synonymous with certain goal songs. The Blackhawks have “Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis, the Bruins have “Kernkraft 400” and when they were around, the Whalers’ “Brass Bonanza” was a staple at the Hartford Civic Center.
“Slapshot” is just that with the Rangers. In terms of goal songs that are still played today, it’s one of the older ones in the league.
Who sings Slapshot?
While Castoldi wrote the song, he enlisted a local band called Bad Apple to perform the tune. He said in an article with WSJ that he does not believe the band is still around today. However, the group is intertwined with the most famous sports arena in the world.
The curse of Slapshot
While the song has become a staple among Rangers fans, it does come with one somewhat concerning caveat.
As mentioned, the song was introduced the season after New York raised in the Cup for the first time in 54 years. Well, since then, the Rangers have not won the Cup.
The Rangers have made it back to the Stanley Cup Final just once since Slapshot has been their goal song, which came in 2014 when the team lost to the Kings. Perhaps this is the year the streak breaks?
Slapshot lyrics
whooooaaaaaa whoooooaaaaaa
whooooaaaaaa whoooooaaaaaa
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
hey hey hey hey hey
whoooaaaaaa whooooaaaaa
whoooaaaaaa whoooaaaaaa
