Rick Ley

Rick Ley
Rick Ley
Born	November 2, 1948 (age 74); Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL); Hartford Whalers (NHL); New England Whalers (WHA)
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	16th overall, 1966 ; Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1968–1981

Last updated September 08, 2023

Richard Norman Ley (born November 2, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA).

Playing career

Ley was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (16th overall) in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He played four seasons with the Maple Leafs (1968–69 to 1971–72) in the NHL before leaving to play with the New England Whalers of the WHA. He would remain with the Whalers' organisation in the WHA until that league folded in 1979. The Whalers, along with three other teams from the WHA's remaining six, were absorbed into the NHL in 1979. Ley made the transition with the New England Whalers (who would become the Hartford Whalers) and finished his professional playing career in 1981.

Ley spent six years as the Whalers' captain and was one of three players in Hartford Whalers' history to have his jersey number retired (#2), joining Gordie Howe and John McKenzie. Following the Whalers move to Raleigh, the Hurricanes ceased to honor Ley's #2 and McKenzie's #19, and returned the numbers to circulation, although #2 was re-retired by the Hurricanes, this time in honor of Glen Wesley.

Ley and his wife Ellen have a daughter, Kathleen.

Honours

In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.^[1]

Coaching career

Ley began his coaching career in International Hockey League, where he coached the Muskegon Lumberjacks to four first-place finishes and one championship during his tenure between 1984 and 1988. He was then hired by former Leafs defence partner Pat Quinn to coach the Vancouver Canucks IHL affiliate in Milwaukee.

After one season there, Ley was the coach of the Hartford Whalers for 2 seasons from 1989 to 1991, leading them to consecutive 4th-place finishes and first round playoff defeats at the hands of their New England rival the Boston Bruins in both seasons.

Ley then rejoined the Canucks. After serving as an assistant coach under Quinn for three seasons from 1991–92 to 1993–94, Ley became the 12th head coach in Vancouver Canucks' history on August 10, 1994. In 121 regular season games as head coach, the Canucks posted a record of 47–48–26. He also served the Canucks in a professional scouting capacity in 1996–97 and 1997–98.

In 1998, he was once again hired by Quinn as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and held that role for eight seasons until he was relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the 2005–06 season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1964–65	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA-Jr.	50	0	11	11	58	11	0	3	3	28
1964–65	Niagara Falls Flyers	M-Cup	—	—	—	—	—	8	0	2	2	8
1965–66	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA-Jr.	46	3	13	16	180	6	0	6	6	18
1966–67	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA-Jr.	48	10	27	37	128	12	2	4	6	24
1967–68	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA-Jr.	53	16	48	64	81	19	1	15	16	38
1967–68	Niagara Falls Flyers	M-Cup	—	—	—	—	—	10	1	6	7	15
1968–69	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	38	1	11	12	39	3	0	0	0	9
1968–69	Tulsa Oilers	CHL	19	0	5	5	23	—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	48	2	13	15	102	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	76	4	16	20	151	6	0	2	2	4
1971–72	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	67	1	14	15	124	5	0	0	0	7
1972–73	New England Whalers	WHA	76	3	27	30	108	15	3	7	10	24
1973–74	New England Whalers	WHA	72	6	35	41	148	7	1	5	6	18
1974–75	New England Whalers	WHA	72	6	36	42	50	6	1	1	2	32
1975–76	New England Whalers	WHA	67	8	30	38	78	17	1	4	5	49
1976–77	New England Whalers	WHA	55	2	21	23	102	5	0	4	4	4
1977–78	New England Whalers	WHA	73	3	41	44	95	14	1	8	9	4
1978–79	New England Whalers	WHA	73	7	20	27	135	9	0	4	4	11
1979–80	Hartford Whalers	NHL	65	4	16	20	92	—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Hartford Whalers	NHL	16	0	2	2	20	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			310	12	72	84	528	14	0	2	2	20
WHA totals			478	35	210	245	716	73	7	33	40	142

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974	Canada	SS		7	0	0	0	16

Coaching statistics

Team	Year	Regular season						Post-season
Team	Year	G	W	L	T	Pts	Finish	Result
HAR	1989–90	80	38	33	9	85	4th in Adams	Lost in first round
HAR	1990–91	80	31	38	11	73	4th in Adams	Lost in first round
VAN	1994–95	48	18	18	12	48	2nd in Pacific	Lost in second round
VAN	1995–96	76	29	32	15	(79)	3rd in Pacific	(fired)
Total		284	116	121	47

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References

↑ "WHA Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2013-09-13.

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or Eliteprospects.com , or Hockey-Reference.com , or The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Ted Green	New England Whalers / Hartford Whalers captain 1975–80	Succeeded by Mike Rogers
Preceded by Larry Pleau	Head coach of the Hartford Whalers 1989–91	Succeeded by Jim Roberts
Preceded by Pat Quinn	Head coach of the Vancouver Canucks 1994–96	Succeeded by Pat Quinn

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[1] "WHA Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2013-09-13.

[1]