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January 21 in NYR history: No miracle on ice in New York as Herb Brooks fired

Head coach Herb Brooks of the New York Rangers . (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

What happened on January 21 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 1985, the New York Rangers fired coach Herb Brooks after three and a half years. There was no championship for the coach of the Miracle on Ice team 1980 Olympics hockey team, but he brought a European style of play to the Rangers and led the “Smurfs” to the playoffs every year.

It wasn’t really Craig Patrick who fired Brooks, it was the New York Islanders.