William Butler Yeats, the famous Irish poet, once wrote, "There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't met yet." Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, who passed away this past week, lived by that credo.

I found out firsthand why he was called Mr. Ranger during my stint as a player in the Rangers' farm system. From my first day of training camp with New York, he was welcoming not just to me but all of the guys there. It didn't matter if you were a top prospect, a journeyman, a suspect or a tryout wannabe. The veteran star made you feel like you belonged on his team: that you, too, were a Ranger. I will never forget that he took me out to eat at Il Vagabondo. That was a huge deal to me.

Rod loved to meet new people. He was friendly, gregarious and generous with his time. He was especially good with kids.

My stint in the Rangers' organization didn't last all that long. John Ferguson told me numerous times that he was working on an NHL contract for me but that never materialized. I did not advance beyond Binghamton (all roads led to Bingo, it seemed, during my playing days) and my only games in a New York Rangers uniform were in the preseason.

Something that was enduring, though, was my friendship with Rod Gilbert. Over the years, whether it was a game I reffed at MSG or happening upon each other at an event, Rod never failed to stop by, say hello and shoot the breeze for awhile. It wasn't just me, though. Pretty much everyone in the hockey world counted Rod Gilbert among their friends.

In 2018, when I was finishing up my autobiography, "Ya Wanna Go", Rod honored me by writing a testimonial that appears on the back cover of the book: "I have known Stewy for 42 years, and am proud to call him a friend. I have always admired his passion for hockey and for life."

The feeling was mutual. The hockey world lost one of the true greats when Rod Gilbert left us on Aug. 19, 2021. For all his heroics on the ice, the true measure of the man was his nature off the ice. Rest in peace, Mr. Ranger.


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A 2018 inductee into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Paul Stewart holds the distinction of
being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Visit Paul's official websites, YaWannaGo.com and Officiating by Stewart