March 29, 2024

Messier not happy about being passed over

NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Messier is leaving the New York Rangers after being passed over to replace fired head coach John Tortorella.

Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced in a statement that he is resigning in order to “expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center.” The Kingsbridge National Ice Center, proposed for the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, would be the largest ice sports facility in the world.

However, he added that the Rangers’ choice to hire veteran coach Alain Vigneault to be the new head coach wasn’t a factor in his departure from the team.