Rick Ley
Encyclopedia
Richard Norman Ley is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player who played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) and World Hockey Association
(WHA).
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.
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.
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...
player who played 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...
(NHL) and World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA).
Playing career
Ley was drafted by the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the third round (16th overall) in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft
1966 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1966 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Listed below are the selections in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-External links:* *...
. He played four seasons with the Maple Leafs (1968–69 to 1971–72) in the NHL
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...
before leaving to play with the New England Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
. 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
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
) 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
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
and John McKenzie
John McKenzie (hockey player)
John Albert "Pie, Bronco" McKenzie is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for several seasons, most notably with the Boston Bruins where he was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams. He also played several seasons in the World Hockey...
. 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
Glen Wesley
Glen Edwin Wesley is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 10 seasons for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He began his career with the Boston Bruins, and briefly played for the Toronto Maple Leafs...
.
Ley and his wife Ellen have a daughter, Kathleen.
NHL career stats
- Regular seasonSeason (sports)In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
games played: 310 - Regular season goals: 12
- Regular season assists: 72
- Regular season pointsPoint (ice hockey)Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
: 84 - Regular season penaltyPenalty (ice hockey)A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
minutes: 528
- Playoff games played: 14
- Playoff goals: 0
- Playoff assists: 2
- Playoff points: 2
- Playoff penalty minutes: 20
WHA career stats
- Regular season games played: 478
- Regular season goals: 35
- Regular season assists: 210
- Regular season points: 245
- Regular season penalty minutes: 716
- Playoff games played: 73
- Playoff goals: 7
- Playoff assists: 33
- Playoff points: 40
- Playoff penalty minutes: 142
Coaching career
Ley began his coaching career in International Hockey League, where he coached the Muskegon LumberjacksMuskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
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
Pat Quinn (ice hockey)
John Brian Patrick Quinn , is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",...
to coach the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
IHL affiliate in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
.
After one season there, Ley was the coach of the Hartford Whalers for 2 seasons from 1989
1989-90 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:...
to 1991
1990-91 NHL season
-NHL Awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay goals, SHG = Shorthanded goals, GWG = Game winning goals-Leading goaltenders:...
, 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
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and held that role for eight seasons until he was relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the 2005–06 season.
See also
- Hartford WhalersHartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
- Carolina HurricanesCarolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
- Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
- Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
- World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
- defenceman (ice hockey)Defenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...