Rangers Mourn The Loss of Former NYPD Officer Steven McDonald

Photo: National Hockey League

January 11, 2017
Peter Solari, Contributing Editor  Follow @4PeteSakeNY


The New York Rangers lost a valued member of their family on Tuesday, as former NYPD officer, and avid Rangers fan, Steven McDonald, passed away from a heart attack. McDonald was 59. Each season, the Rangers present the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award to the player who "goes above and beyond the call of duty. Past winners of the award include Tony Granato, Adam Graves, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Wayne Gretzky, Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan, and Mats Zuccarello among others. More from the NHL:

McDonald, a lifelong Rangers fan, was working undercover in Central Park when he was shot three times July 12, 1986, leaving him a quadriplegic and unable to breathe on his own. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he remained an active member of the police department, even earning a promotion to detective in 1995. He also was a fixture at Madison Square Garden and drew ovations when he was shown on the video board.

The Rangers established the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in his honor a year later. Forward Jan Erixon was the first winner.

Many Rangers players, past and present, tweeted their condolences to the McDonald family, including captain Ryan McDonagh, as well as former Extra Effort Award winners Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Cam Talbot. McDonald is survived by his wife Patti Ann and his son, NYPD sergeant, Conor.

The Rangers released the following tribute video in McDonald's honor.