Ron Ellis
Encyclopedia
Ronald John Edward Ellis (born January 8, 1945) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
right winger
who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Toronto Maple Leafs
.
of the Ontario Hockey Association
from 1961–1964. He played on the team that won the Memorial Cup
in 1964. Ellis became a full-time Leaf in 1964–65 and played 11 seasons to 1974–75, winning the Stanley Cup
in 1967. He was also a member of Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series
. Ellis retired at age 30 during training camp in 1975, coming off the most productive season of his career with 61 points. He said he no longer had the desire to play and denied that his decision had anything to do with being passed over as team captain in favour of Darryl Sittler
a month earlier. In 1977, Ellis came out of retirement to play for Canada at the world hockey championships
and then decided to resume his NHL career with the Leafs in 1977–78.
Punch Imlach
was hired to run the Leafs for the 1979–80 season and didn't feel that Ellis was worth the money he was being paid. He offered to buy out Ellis's contract at the end of the season, but the two couldn't reach an agreement. Despite objections from new coach Mike Nykoluk
, Imlach put Ellis on waivers during the 1980–81 season and gave him an ultimatum: retire or be sent to the minor leagues. The 36-year-old Ellis chose to retire. He had played 1,034 career NHL games scoring 332 goals and 308 assists for 640 points.
After his life in hockey, Ellis opened a sporting goods store but the stresses of life after hockey took its toll. In 1986 a bout with clinical depression
began. He would later go public with his story by writing a book with Kevin Shea titled Over The Boards: The Ron Ellis Story, published in 2002. Today, he is a speaker on the importance of diagnosing and treating clinical depression. As of 2006, Ellis is director of public affairs for the Hockey Hall of Fame
in Toronto
.
—then working as a timekeeper at Maple Leaf Gardens
—declared that he admired Ellis so much, he wanted the team to give his retired #6 to Ellis. Bailey's number had been retired following his career-ending injury in 1933. Ellis, who had been wearing #8, changed to #6 for the rest of his career, after which the number was re-retired.
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...
right 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 16 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 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...
.
Playing career
Ellis was signed by the Leafs and played junior hockey with the Toronto MarlborosToronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
from 1961–1964. He played on the team that won the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1964. Ellis became a full-time Leaf in 1964–65 and played 11 seasons to 1974–75, winning 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...
in 1967. He was also a member of Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series
Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
. Ellis retired at age 30 during training camp in 1975, coming off the most productive season of his career with 61 points. He said he no longer had the desire to play and denied that his decision had anything to do with being passed over as team captain in favour of Darryl Sittler
Darryl Sittler
Darryl Glen Sittler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.On February 7, 1976, Sittler set an NHL...
a month earlier. In 1977, Ellis came out of retirement to play for Canada at the world hockey championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
and then decided to resume his NHL career with the Leafs in 1977–78.
Punch Imlach
Punch Imlach
George "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
was hired to run the Leafs for the 1979–80 season and didn't feel that Ellis was worth the money he was being paid. He offered to buy out Ellis's contract at the end of the season, but the two couldn't reach an agreement. Despite objections from new coach Mike Nykoluk
Mike Nykoluk
Mike Nykoluk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played one season in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and who coached for seven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, Imlach put Ellis on waivers during the 1980–81 season and gave him an ultimatum: retire or be sent to the minor leagues. The 36-year-old Ellis chose to retire. He had played 1,034 career NHL games scoring 332 goals and 308 assists for 640 points.
After his life in hockey, Ellis opened a sporting goods store but the stresses of life after hockey took its toll. In 1986 a bout with clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
began. He would later go public with his story by writing a book with Kevin Shea titled Over The Boards: The Ron Ellis Story, published in 2002. Today, he is a speaker on the importance of diagnosing and treating clinical depression. As of 2006, Ellis is director of public affairs for the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Awards and achievements
Ellis earned an unusual tribute in 1968 when former Leafs star Ace BaileyAce Bailey
Irvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey was an ice hockey player who competed for the Toronto Maple Leafs during eight seasons, from 1926–1933.-Playing career:...
—then working as a timekeeper at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
—declared that he admired Ellis so much, he wanted the team to give his retired #6 to Ellis. Bailey's number had been retired following his career-ending injury in 1933. Ellis, who had been wearing #8, changed to #6 for the rest of his career, after which the number was re-retired.
- 1966–67 - Stanley CupStanley CupThe 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...
Champion - 1963–64 - NHL All-Star Game
- 1964–65 - NHL All-Star Game
- 1967–68 - NHL All-Star Game
- 1969–70 - NHL All-Star Game
- [(1972)] Team Canada
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (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... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (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... |
PIM Penalty (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,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1960–61 | Toronto Marlboros Toronto Marlboros The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989... |
OHA Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1961–62 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 33 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 54 | 46 | 38 | 84 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | 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... |
NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 62 | 23 | 16 | 39 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1965–66 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1966–67 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1967–68 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 74 | 28 | 20 | 48 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968–69 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 72 | 25 | 21 | 46 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1969–70 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 76 | 35 | 19 | 54 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 78 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1971–72 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 78 | 23 | 24 | 47 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1972–73 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 78 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1974–75 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 79 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1977–78 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 80 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1978–79 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 63 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1979–80 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 59 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1980–81 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 27 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1034 | 332 | 308 | 640 | 207 | 70 | 18 | 8 | 26 | 20 | ||||
International play
- 1972 - Member of Team Canada in the Summit Series
- 1977 - Member of Team Canada in the World Hockey ChampionshipsIce Hockey World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...