Episode 43: Stephane Matteau

In this episode I sit down with an incredible professional hockey player, Stanley Cup champion, coach, father, and educator Stephane Matteau.  Stephane is incredibly generous in sharing what it was like growing up, how he coached his kids and what he would do better, his thoughts on parenting kids, what it's like moving away from home, winning and losing, and so much more.  This is a must hear episode.

As a member of the New York Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup Championship team, Matteau scored two overtime goals in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils, including one that ended the series and became an iconic goal in Rangers lore. His first overtime goal ended Game 3 at 6:13 of the second overtime in New Jersey giving the Rangers a 3–2 victory and a 2–1 series lead.

His second goal came at 4:24 of the second overtime of Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Matteau scored off a wrap around that was intended for a pass to Esa Tikkanen so that Tikkanen could score, only to have it bounced off a stick on the left side of New Jersey's rookie goaltender Martin Brodeur, a play which has been immortalized by the dramatic play-by-play call of Rangers radio announcer Howie Rose:

Fetisov for the Devils plays it cross-ice, into the far corner. Matteau swoops in to intercept. Matteau behind the net, swings it in front, HE SCORES! MATTEAU! MATTEAU! MATTEAU! STEPHANE MATTEAU! AND THE RANGERS HAVE ONE MORE HILL TO CLIMB, BABY... BUT IT'S MOUNT VANCOUVER! THE RANGERS ARE HEADED TO THE FINALS!

Matteau finished his career in 2002–03 with the Florida Panthers and their minor league affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, and had a career total 742 penalty minutes, 144 goals and 172 assists for 316 total points in 848 games.

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