Red Kelly
Leonard Patrick " Red" Kelly ( born July 9, 1927 in Simcoe, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach, who played from 1947 to 1967 for the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.
- 3.1 Personal Awards
Career
As a player
Kelly, who was named because of his red hair "Red" played for 20 years, from 1947 to 1967, in the NHL. His first club in the NHL were the Detroit Red Wings, to whom he had transferred directly from St. Michael 's College in Toronto. The defender has been known for its clever and fair Checking and a unique puck - handling. Between 1951 and 1954 he won three times the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and is so far the only defender to have won the trophy more than once. Already at this time he played from time to time as a striker when his team was handicapped by injuries.
In 1960 there was a dispute between him and the club's management of the Red Wings, whose captain he was from 1956 to 1958, because they had publicly criticized his game. However, he played, and knew only the club bosses, with a broken foot. Then he should be transferred in exchange for Bill Gadsby and Eddie Shack to the New York Rangers. But only one day later, Kelly announced his resignation and the change was invalid.
The coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Punch Imlach wanted to bring him out to Toronto. Kelly did not at first, because a talent scout ( Scout ) Toronto had prophesied to him as a youth player that he would not contest more than 20 NHL games. Ultimately, it nevertheless came to the exchange and his long-time favorite club was "Red" a valuable striker. Together with Frank Mahovlich he made this an excellent tandem. In 1967, he ended his career as a Stanley Cup winner after his team in the final series, the Montreal Canadiens with Jean Beliveau had conquered. Overall, he won the Stanley Cup eight times, four times each with Detroit and Toronto.
For his athletic achievements, he was accepted in 1969 in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
As a coach
His coaching career began with the Los Angeles Kings, which he coached from 1967 to 1969. After that, he spent four years, from 1969 to 1973, coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, before he returned to the Maple Leafs in Toronto, which he was in charge from 1973 to 1977.
As a politician
His great popularity helped him in 1962 to move into the Canadian Parliament. He represented the district of York West for three years until he decided to concentrate fully back to the sport of ice hockey.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
- Memorial Cup: 1947
- Stanley Cup: 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967
Personal Awards
- First All -Star Team: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1957
- Second All-Star Team: 1950 and 1956
- James Norris Memorial Trophy: 1954
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1961