Former Toronto Maple Leaf player Ron Ellis, who played for the team for 16 seasons, passed away at the age of 79. Ellis was a significant part of the last Toronto team to win the Stanley Cup in 1967. Prior to that, he had also won a Memorial Cup title in 1964 as a junior hockey player with the Toronto Marlboros. The Maple Leafs expressed their condolences, stating that Ellis was one of only five players in the team’s history to have played in over 1000 games and scored the fifth most goals. The NHL Alumni Association also extended their sympathies and asked for privacy for Ellis’ family during this difficult time.
Although Ellis went undrafted, he joined the Maple Leafs for one game during the 1963-64 season before becoming a regular member of the roster. Throughout his career, he played in 1,034 regular-season games, ranking fifth on the Maple Leafs’ all-time games played list. He also scored 332 goals, placing him fifth on the team’s all-time goals list. Ellis is one of only four players in the franchise to have scored 300 or more goals with Toronto.
Ellis had an impressive record, having scored 20 or more goals in 11 seasons, including ten consecutive seasons from 1966-67 to 1977-78. He accumulated a total of 640 points throughout his career. In 1968, Ellis started wearing the No. 6 jersey after Hall of Famer Ace Bailey requested that the Maple Leafs un-retire it so that Ellis could wear it.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 1967, Ellis represented Team Canada in the historic 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. He played alongside Bobby Clarke and Paul Henderson in this significant event.
Following his retirement as a player, Ellis dedicated his time to helping his fellow teammates and other players through the NHL Alumni Association. In recognition of his contributions, he was honored with the NHL Alumni Association’s Keith Magnuson Man of the Year Award this year. Ellis leaves behind a legacy as a talented player and a dedicated advocate for the hockey community.
