The Curse of 1940, also called Dutton's Curse, was a superstitious explanation for why the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League did not win the league's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, from 1940–94.
Net = Hockey 54 Years = Duration of the Curse
1940 was also Pre WWII (for the US)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_1940
Was anyone involved in the naming a Hockey or Rangers Fan?