Ray Getliffe
Encyclopedia
Ray Getliffe was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
left winger
who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Boston Bruins
and Montreal Canadiens
. Born in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario
), he played with the Saint John St. Peters.
It is a miscopnception that Getliffe nicknamed Rocket. It was Harold Atkins, Sports Editor of the Montreal Star, who in his column compared Richard's swiftness from the blue line in to the German V2 rockets that had just fallen over London.
At the time of his death he was believed to be the oldest living former Montreal Canadiens player. Getliffe's name is on the Stanley Cup
twice, for 1939 with Boston and 1944 with Montreal. On February 6, 1943 while playing for the Canadiens he scored five goals in one game.
Retired from hockey, Getliffe and his wife Lorna remained in Montreal
until moving to London, Ontario
in 1990, where he grew up.
Getliffe died in London of liver cancer
at age 94. At the time of his death, reports claimed that he was the oldest living NHL alumnus, at about four months older than ex-New York Ranger and Chicago Blackhawk Clint Smith
. These reports, however, overlooked players who had only played a certain number of games, such as Louis Holmes
and Al Suomi
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. Born in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
), he played with the Saint John St. Peters.
It is a miscopnception that Getliffe nicknamed Rocket. It was Harold Atkins, Sports Editor of the Montreal Star, who in his column compared Richard's swiftness from the blue line in to the German V2 rockets that had just fallen over London.
At the time of his death he was believed to be the oldest living former Montreal Canadiens player. Getliffe's name is on the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
twice, for 1939 with Boston and 1944 with Montreal. On February 6, 1943 while playing for the Canadiens he scored five goals in one game.
Retired from hockey, Getliffe and his wife Lorna remained in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
until moving to London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in 1990, where he grew up.
Getliffe died in London of liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
at age 94. At the time of his death, reports claimed that he was the oldest living NHL alumnus, at about four months older than ex-New York Ranger and Chicago Blackhawk Clint Smith
Clint Smith
Clinton James "Snuffy" Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach best known for his time spent in the National Hockey League as a player with the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks...
. These reports, however, overlooked players who had only played a certain number of games, such as Louis Holmes
Louis Holmes
Louis Charles Carter "Lou" Holmes was a professional ice hockey centre who played 56 games in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks from 1931 to 1933. He was born in Rushall, England. After his playing career, Holmes coached the gold medal winning Edmonton Mercurys at the 1952...
and Al Suomi
Al Suomi
Albert William Suomi is a former NHL player, who played with the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1936–37 NHL season. Although he did not aspire to play at a professional level, Suomi nevertheless spent his young life playing hockey and was eventually scouted while playing with friends...
.