Tim Gettinger of the New York Rangers skates against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2018.
The setting was Madison Square Garden, long the mecca of New York sports.
It was Nov. 24, 2018, and the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals were there to face the New York Rangers.
For former Soo Greyhounds star Tim Gettinger, stepping onto an NHL ice surface for the first time “was a pretty surreal moment. It was obviously something I had worked for my whole life.”
Recalled one day earlier by the Rangers from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, Getting called it a dream come true.
“To be able to live that was pretty amazing,” said the six-foot-six, 220-pound left winger, taken by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
A native of North Olmsted, Ohio, Gettinger said his girlfriend, Skylar Byrne, had been visiting him in Hartford at the time of his recall.
She accompanied him to New York and his parents, Gary and Shelli Gettinger, and Grant, his brother, were also on hand for his NHL debut.
“Being told I was going up was surreal,” Gettinger recalled. “Having my family there was pretty cool and playing in my first game at Madison Square Garden made it that much better.”
Gettinger, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Tuesday, also spoke of how “Rangers fans are the best fans. They’re loud all the time.”
He wound up playing in four games for the Rangers that season. Gettinger came away without a point while averaging just over 7:31 in ice time per game.
With the Wolf Pack, the former Greyhounds captain finished his first AHL season with 14 goals and 13 assists in 64 games.
This season, Gettinger has played in two games for the Rangers, averaging 8:23 on the ice, while notching his first NHL point on Nov. 22, 2019, in Ottawa.
He was credited with an assist on a first period goal in a 4-1 Rangers loss.
“It was kind of a simple play,” said Gettinger, who spoke of gobbling up a puck from a face-off and feeding defenceman Jacob Trouba at the point.
Trouba’s shot beat Senators netminder Anders Nillson.
“My first NHL point was significant for me and something I’ll always remember,” he said.
At the time AHL play was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gettinger had 16 goals and 11 assists in 53 games.
He talked about how both his play, and that of the team as a whole, has been better this season.
Asked about his NHL experiences, Gettinger said the games he’s played in, the practices he’s participated in and the time he’s spent with the Rangers, both at home and on the road, have been beneficial.
“It’s good to get perspective and see how they conduct themselves every day, both on and off of the ice,” he said of his NHL teammates. “Taking that back to Hartford has been good for me. Hopefully, I get back there (to the NHL) long term.”
As for what he needs to do to become an NHL regular, Gettinger talked about the need to play his game on each and every shift.
“As a big guy, I have to be physical, move my feet, play fast with the puck and use my size,” he added. “I need to be able to do that all the time.”
During his final season with the Hounds, serving as the club’s captain helped Gettinger grow as a leader. Calling it “a privilege” to captain the Soo, he said he’s tried to take that experience into the pros.
After posting a 33-36-69 stat line in 66 games during the 2017-2018 OHL season, Gettinger finished with 91 goals and 96 assists in four seasons here.
“It’s a time I’ll never forget, for sure,” he said. “I built great friendships and great memories there.”