Messier, FDNY captain reunite for ABC’s ‘9/11: United We Stand — 25 Years Later’ | NHL.com

The Rangers invited first responders to their home opener Oct. 7, 2001, which New York won 5-4 in overtime.

“I was working in the Bronx. The general manager for the fire department hockey team called and said the Rangers were inviting us down for the home opener,” McGee said. “Bring your sticks, bring your gloves, bring your skates and bring your jersey. I’m like, ‘Nobody is saying anything about bringing our helmets, in the fire department you wear your helmet,’ The helmet is the staple of a fireman, that’s the only thing that separates you from other rescue workers, is the helmet.

“There was a picture of Chief (Raymond) Downey in the firehouse and I made a copy and put it on the front of my helmet and brought it down, thinking that if I get a chance, I’m going to sneak this on the ice and wear it.”

Chief Downey died in the World Trade Center twin tower collapse Sept. 11, 2001. He was 63.

“Chief Downey was a legend in the fire department,” McGee said. “He was the guy you wanted at any tragedy. You wanted Chief Downey there, because he was going to get it done. He just loved the FDNY, but his No. 1 passion might have been ice hockey.

“So, after 9/11, Chief Downey should have been at the command post for the entire operation, but he was in the building with his men when the collapse happened.”

At the game, McGee skated on to the ice with the firefighter helmet and joined the rest of the FDNY hockey team on the opposing blue line.

Then the Rangers were introduced individually, and Messier as captain, was the last player on the ice.

“It just happened that Mark did not have a helmet on,” McGee said. “On a whim, I said to my co-captain, I’m going to skate over and ask Messier if he’ll wear the helmet. He goes, ‘What? That’s not a good idea.'”