We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Team

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Blueshirt?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 9,590
Share

A blueshirt is a common nickname for the New York Rangers, one of the oldest National Hockey League ice hockey teams. The term is somewhat confusing now, since the Rangers are not always garbed in blue, and may in fact wear white shirts trimmed with blue in certain games.

Initially, a player on the New York Rangers was called a Broadway blueshirt. This may be because Broadway is in close proximity to Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers play home games. As well, the Rangers were known as a very classy team when they first began to play.

They tended to attract Broadway stars, and the upper class to games, because of their reputation for “class” and also for their skill at the game. The Ranger or blueshirt players only missed one playoff in their first sixteen years as an organized team.

Often the term blueshirt applies not only to players but also to coaches and managers of the team. Essentially if one works for the New York Rangers, one is a blueshirt. As well, a fan might consider him or herself to be a blueshirt.

Alternately the term blueshirt may be used in contrast to the red shirts of the New Jersey Devils, a rival ice hockey team existing in close proximity to the Rangers. However the Devils didn’t become established in New Jersey until 1982.

Often a blueshirt, whether player or worker, is given quite a bit of respect since the New York Rangers were one of the original six teams in the National Hockey League. Wayne Gretzky, arguably one of the greatest hockey players ever, chose to play out his last few years as a blueshirt, from 1996-1999. When he retired, the National Hockey League also retired his number throughout the entire league.

Referring to a blueshirt hearkens back to the origins of American ice hockey. It may provoke heated debate about the success of the team now, or merely evoke nostalgia about the many accomplishments of the New York Rangers. A blueshirt is a member of a team with history, which to sports fans implies its own kind of class.

Share
Sports n' Hobbies is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a Sports n' Hobbies contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a Sports n' Hobbies contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.sportsnhobbies.org/what-is-a-blueshirt.htm
Copy this link
Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.