Curse of 1940
A superstition explaining a long championship drought for the New York Rangers
The Curse of 1940 is a popular belief in North American sports that explains why the National Hockey League team known as the New York Rangers failed to win the Stanley Cup for fifty-four years. Fans and observers attributed this prolonged period without a title to supernatural interference or bad luck.
- Rangers went 54 years without winning the Stanley Cup
- Mortgage burned in the Cup bowl in 1940
- Red Dutton allegedly cursed the team in 1946
- Circus bookings forced games in Toronto
- Chant '1940!' used by rival fans as taunt
What it is
The Curse of 1940 serves as a narrative framework used by hockey supporters to make sense of a specific era of failure. It refers to the period between 1940 and 1994 when the New York Rangers did not secure the league championship trophy. This belief transforms statistical variance into a story of misfortune, allowing fans to personify their frustration with the team's performance over five decades.
Where it comes from
Two main stories explain how this superstition began. One involves the burning of the arena mortgage in the Stanley Cup bowl during the 1940 season, which some felt desecrated the trophy. The other centers on Red Dutton, a former coach who allegedly cursed the Rangers after being denied the return of his previous team. These events created a foundation for later speculation about why the team struggled so significantly.
How it is done
The curse operates through perceived patterns of misfortune rather than active rituals. Supporters point to odd occurrences, such as playing home games in neutral arenas due to scheduling conflicts with circuses. They also cite roster disadvantages caused by wartime drafts and territorial rules that favored other cities. These factors are woven together to suggest an external force working against the team.
Tools and materials
No physical objects are used to cast or break the curse. The concept relies entirely on historical events and media narratives. Photographs of the burned mortgage document occasionally resurface in publications, reinforcing the legend. Chants of "1940" by rival fans also serve as a verbal tool to remind the Rangers organization of their past failures.
Curse of 1940, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
What it is for
Fans use this belief to contextualize disappointment. When the team loses in unexpected ways or suffers injuries at critical moments, attributing it to a curse provides emotional relief. It shifts blame away from players and coaches, suggesting that an invisible hand was responsible for the poor outcomes during the long drought.
Who does it
The primary practitioners are the general public and sports journalists who keep the story alive. Scholars of sports culture analyze how myths form around athletic teams. There are no trained specialists or ritual experts involved; the belief spreads organically through fan communities and media coverage of playoff losses.
Peoples and places
The superstition is deeply rooted in North American hockey culture, specifically among followers of the New York Rangers. It gained traction in the 1980s as rival teams began using the number as a taunt. The narrative extends beyond just one city, influencing how fans across the league view the Rangers' history and their eventual victory in 1994.
At a glance: who, where and when
What people believe
The underlying worldview assumes that sports outcomes can be influenced by non-sporting factors. It treats the Stanley Cup as a sacred object capable of holding grudges or reacting to disrespect. This perspective blends secular fandom with quasi-religious reverence for trophies and historical continuity within the sport.
When it is done
The curse is associated with the annual NHL playoffs. Each time the Rangers were eliminated early or suffered a heartbreaking loss, the narrative was reinforced. The belief reached its peak intensity during the 1994 playoffs, culminating in the championship victory that officially ended the era of the curse.
How scholars and sceptics see it
Anthropologists and sociologists study such beliefs to understand group identity and coping mechanisms. Researchers note that sports superstitions help communities manage the stress of competition. Skeptics view the curse as a post-hoc explanation for complex sporting realities like roster construction and economic disparities between markets.
Cautions and what is closed
There are no physical dangers associated with this belief. However, the persistence of the myth can create psychological pressure on players. The internalization of such curses can affect team morale and confidence, potentially contributing to self-fulfilling prophecies of failure during high-stakes games.
Compare and confuse
This belief is similar to other sports curses, such as the Billy Goat Curse in baseball or the Curse of the Bambino. All share a common structure: a specific transgression leads to a long period of failure, broken only by a dramatic redemption. These narratives provide a satisfying arc for fan bases experiencing prolonged disappointment.
Questions people ask about Curse of 1940
What is the Curse of 1940?
It is a superstition explaining why the New York Rangers did not win the Stanley Cup for 54 years, from 1940 to 1994. Fans believe external forces prevented their success during this period.
Where does the curse come from?
Popular theories include burning the arena mortgage in the Cup bowl or a curse from Red Dutton after he lost control of his former team. These events are cited as the origin points.
How was the curse broken?
The Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. Captain Mark Messier's guarantee before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals is often seen as the turning point that ended the drought.
Why do people still talk about it?
The story highlights the emotional investment of fans. It serves as a cautionary tale about misfortune and a celebration of resilience, reminding everyone of the long wait for glory.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Curse of 1940", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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