Ryan Callahan Rangers Diary: Home sweet home

It’s been a whirlwind start for the team, opening the season in Europe followed by a week-long trip to western Canada.

Getting this much time to spend together has been great for the team, but we are all looking forward to coming back to New York to see our families and also to play in the home opener. I can speak for all of us when I say we cannot wait to step onto the Madison Square Garden ice on Thursday night and feel the energy and buzz around MSG. There is even more anticipation for the home opener this year because we’re all excited to come back to see the first phase of the transformed Garden.

I took a tour of the building and can tell you there is a lot for everyone to look forward to; there are new lower-level seats, wider concourses and fan viewing decks, all of which make for a much-improved hockey viewing experience. I’ve always felt extreme pride to wear a Rangers jersey and play at the World’s Most Famous Arena, so it’s really exciting to be a part of things as the arena becomes truly “state of the art” (while keeping the history and tradition).

Our team is really starting to come together. We have a cohesive group of guys and our chemistry is improving each time we step onto the ice. For me, this home opener means more than ever, having been given the tremendous honor of wearing the “C” on my sweater as team captain. I feel it is my duty to the team to lead by example both on and off the ice. We are fortunate to have a lot of leaders on this team and we’re looking forward to making you, our fans, proud — and making this a special season of New York Rangers hockey.

Ryan Callahan is a 26-year-old right winger and sixth-year Ranger. This player diary appears courtesy of Madison Square Garden.