The Hat-Trick Magic

At age 21, Vickers rocked the NHL by becoming the first rookie in league history and the first player since the official formation of the NHL in 1917 to register back-to-back hat tricks. He did it at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Nov. 12, 1972 vs. Los Angeles and Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1972, vs. Philadelphia. On the night of Nov. 12, he scored goals at 15:22 of the second period, 8:12 of the third, and 19:36 of the third to lead the Rangers to a 5-1 rout of the Kings. On Nov. 15, he helped the Rangers crush the Flyers 7-3 with goals at 5:04 of the second for a 2-1 lead, 14:31 of the second for a 3-2 lead, and 12:54 of the third to close out the scoring. Vickers also set the Rangers' team record for consecutive hat tricks. Ironically, he did not win NHL Player of the Week because the first hat trick came at the end of one qualifying week and the second at the start of another. Prior to Vickers, only Hall of Famer Joe Malone had scored consecutive hat tricks back in the 1916-17 season with the Quebec Bulldogs.

Career Vitals

Career NHL Statistics

Team: N.Y. Rangers
Years: 1972-1982. Playoffs: 1973-1981

NHL Awards and Honors

Team Awards and Honors

League/Team Records

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Stephen James Vickers
Nickname: "Sarge"

Other Post-Draft Teams: Omaha (CHL); Springfield (AHL)

Education: Attended University of Toronto, majoring in economics.

Career Beyond Hockey: Retired in 1982 and finished out his contract by spending a year overseeing the New York Rangers' Alumni Association. During his season in the position, he teamed up with Rangers public-relations director John Halligan and former NHL referee and Rangers announcer Bill Chadwick, in 1983 to found the N.Y. Rangers annual Golf Outing to benefit the Alumni Association. The annual Golf Outing has been held ever year since then, and Vickers remains one of the Alumni Association's most active and loyal members. ... Became an insurance broker after leaving Rangers front office. He had begun training to work in insurance during the summer of 1978. ... Later moved to South Florida and worked as a consultant for an international mineral company.

Family: Father of former minor-leaguer Jim Vickers.

Career Highlights

Was converted to left wing when he turned pro and played the left side throughout his NHL career. ... Set CHL record with eight points for Omaha in Jan. 15, 1972, game vs. Kansas City. Vickers had five goals and three assists to lead Omaha to a 10-1 home victory, and his single-game points record still stood when the CHL folded in 1984. ... Tied CHL record (later broken) with five goals for Omaha on Jan. 15, 1972. He scored his first goal at 1:20 of the opening period and added his second to make it 2-0 at 6:29 of the first. He completed his hat trick at 19:27 of the second period, and added two more goals at 6:01 and 11:49 of the third. His final goal closed out the scoring. ... Named CHL Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 16, 1972 after scoring six goals and nine points in three games for Omaha. ... Scored a goal on his first shot in his first NHL game. The goal came at 12:47 of the third period to close out the scoring in a 5-3 loss. ... Set N.Y. Rangers record (since broken) for goals by a rookie with 30 in 1972-73. ... Scored lone career playoff hat trick in N.Y. Rangers' April 10, 1973, game at Boston. ... Set N.Y. Rangers rookie records (since broken) for playoff points (9) and goals (5) in 1973. ... Became first N.Y. Rangers player since Camille Henry 19 years earlier to win the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. ... Had his first of two four-goal games for the Rangers on March 30, 1975, vs. Kansas City at Madison Square Garden. All four goals were scored against netminder Peter McDuffe, a former teammate with the Rangers. ... Scored goal for Campbell Conference in 1976 NHL All-Star Game at Philadelphia. His goal at 14:46 of the third period cut Wales lead to 7-5 and closed out the scoring. ... Posted his second career four-goal game for N.Y. Rangers on Oct. 26, 1977, vs. St. Louis goaltender Ed Staniowski. ... Played on N.Y. Rangers team that lost to Montreal in 1979 Stanley Cup Finals. ... Set NHL single-season record (since broken) with 29.6 scoring percentage for N.Y. Rangers in 1979-80. ... Scored his first and only NHL shorthanded goal in N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 26, 1980, game vs. Boston. ... Retired in 1982 ranked fifth on Rangers' career points list (586), sixth on career goals list (246), fifth on career assists list (340), third on career playoff games list (68), third on career playoff points list (49), second on career playoff goals list (24). and fifth on career playoff assists list (25).
 

Vickers' Seven-Point Night

Vickers enjoyed one of his greatest moments in the NHL on the night of Feb. 18, 1976, when he erupted for a New York Rangers record of seven points vs. Washington at Madison Square Garden. His three-goal, four-assist performance broke the previous team record of six points set by Don Raleigh in 1951. Vickers began his big night by getting the primary assist on Wayne Dillon's goal that tied the score 1-1 at 6:47 of the first period. He then got another primary assist on a Ron Greschner goal for a 2-1 lead at 10:22 of the first. Vickers' third point was a secondary assist on a goal by Rod Gilbert at 3:19 of the second period, making it 3-2. He then scored his first goal for his fourth point of the night at 9:36 of the second for a 4-2 lead. Point No. 5 came on another goal at 13:32 of the second for a 6-2 lead. The sixth point was a primary assist on a goal by Phil Esposito and a 7-3 Rangers lead at 17:48 of the second. In the third period, Vickers scored his seventh point to pass Raleigh with a goal at 15:02 of the third. The goal gave the Rangers a 10-4 lead in a game they went on to win 11-4. Capitals goalie Ron Low was the victim of all 11 goals.

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1972-73 season with strained ligaments in left knee, suffered when he was hit by Darryl Edestrand during N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 19, game vs. Pittsburgh. He did not return until Dec. 24, 1972, game vs. Detroit. ... Missed start of 1976-77 season with strained back, suffered at N.Y. Rangers' 1976 training camp. The injury ended a streak of 165 consecutive games played, and he did not make his 1976-77 regular-season debut until Oct. 13, 1977, game vs. Boston. ... Missed part of 1978-79 season with sprained ligaments in left shoulder, suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Oct. 12, 1978, season-opener vs. Philadelphia. He did not return until Oct. 25, 1978, game vs. Vancouver. ... Missed part of 1980-81 season with ankle injury, suffered in N.Y. Rangers' Nov. 22, 1980, game at N.Y. Islanders. He did not return until Dec. 1, 1980, game vs. Minnesota. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with left eye injury, suffered when his son accidentally poked him while they were playing together on Feb. 22, 1982. He did not return until N.Y. Rangers'  March 6, 1982, game at N.Y. Islanders.

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