TROY, N.Y. — As he typically does, Howie Rose struck the perfect chord in a pre-recorded video message shared here at the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday night.
“It’s impossible to have a New York State Hockey Hall of Fame and not include Nicky Fotiu,” the former New York Rangers broadcaster, and current Voice of the Mets, said.
That issue, as it were, was laid to rest this weekend, when the popular Staten Island-born former Rangers forward was inducted with the rest of the Class of 2026. Fittingly, he was enshrined alongside his Blueshirts teammate from the 1970s and ’80’s Don Maloney, and 1994 Stanley Cup-winning Rangers general manager Neil Smith.
“Now, it’s all done. Signed, sealed, delivered,” Fotiu told Forever Blueshirts, wearing a big smile. “New York State Hall of Fame. Staten Island Hall of Fame. Rangers Hall of Fame. I’m running out of Hall of Fames!”
Now 74 years old, Fotiu still has a lot of that kid left in him — the one who plays practical jokes, tells great stories, is everyone’s friend, and loves the Rangers. He grew up sitting in the blue seats — remember them? — way up high at Madison Square Garden,. and never forgot his roots. Before every home game at MSG during his two tenures with the Rangers, he’d throw pucks up to the fans seated in the blues.
Nick Fotiu speaking at 2026 NY State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony — photo credit: Jim Cerny
Though he didn’t start ice skating until he was 16 — prior to that he played his hockey on roller skates, like most city kids — Fotiu turned pro six years later, teammates with Gordie Howe on the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association. Two years later, he signed with his favorite childhood team and became the first New York City-born player in Rangers history.
“Nick Fotiu’s story is incredible and inspirational,” Rose said in that video tribute.
A Golden Gloves boxer, Fotiu sits sixth in Rangers history with 970 penalty minutes in 455 games wearing the Blueshirt. All told in 756 games across the NHL and WHA for five teams, Fotiu has an even 1,600 penalty minutes, to go along with 146 points (65 goals, 81 assists).
“All I know is when I was on the ice, people knew I was on the ice,” Fotiu shared with Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast. “I didn’t push to fight. I didn’t want to fight, I just wanted to play. But don’t hurt any of my teammates or try to hurt any of my teammates, because then I’ll be there.”
He lives now, known for decades of charity work and loyalty to family, as he did then with his teammates.
“I always protected those who couldn’t protect themselves.”
If there’s a current Rangers player most similar to Fotiu, it’s likely Matt Rempe. Affable and approachable off the ice, and intimidating on it, Rempe was an instant hit with Rangers fans, just like Fotiu.
Rempe wasn’t born in New York (he’s from Calgary) and he’s got a good seven inches in height on Fotiu. But there are enough similarities to ask Fotiu what he thinks about New York’s 24-year-old forward.
“I wish he called me, and I could’ve helped him because he’s just fighting the wrong way,” Fotiu answered in straightforward fashion. “There’s this old saying, ‘Do you want to be loved or do you want to be feared?’ Well, I want to be feared because I want to protect my teammates. That’s what it’s all about, helping people. If you can give your teammates a little more room out there that means they’re going to score a little more.”
Fotiu also relates to Rempe trying to improve his all-around game, to be a more trusted player on the ice and not solely a side-show as a fighter, something the the 6-foot-9 giant appeared on the right track with last season before he shattered his thumb in his only fight of the season in late October.
“He has the skills to be a good player, I watch him all the time,” Fotiu noted.
The Rangers and coach Mike Sullivan appear to agree. Though they traded away potential bottom-six options Brett Berard and Adam Edstrom this offseason, the Rangers kept Rempe. So, he’ll head to training camp with an opportunity to compete for a spot, along with the likes of Adam Sykora, Jaroslav Chmelar, and, perhaps, some of the intriguing first-year pros like Liam Greentree.
He can learn a lot from Fotiu, even though it was a different game and different League 50 years ago when Staten Island’s own broke into the NHL. Not only feared on the ice, beloved by the fans and teammates, Fotiu was a respected NHL player. Rempe strives to be the same.
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