Ralph Klassen
Canadian NHL forward drafted 3rd overall in 1975.
Last updated
Ralph Leo Klassen was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who appeared in 497 National Hockey League games over a ten-year career. He was selected third overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by the California Golden Seals and also played for the Cleveland Barons, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Blues.
Junior hockey career
Klassen began major junior hockey in the Western Canadian Hockey League at age 15, playing his entire junior career with the Saskatoon Blades as a center and left wing. His highest scoring season came in 1973–74 with 23 goals and 77 points. He captained the Blades in 1974–75 and earned a silver medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1975. His 300 games for the Blades rank second in team history behind Fred Williams' 319.
Professional career
Klassen was selected third overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by the California Golden Seals and fifth overall in the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Crusaders. He signed with the Seals for US$70,000 per season. After four games in the Central Hockey League with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, he made his NHL debut on October 8, 1975, at age 19, scoring a goal in that first game. He played 71 games as a rookie, recording 6 goals and 15 assists.
When the franchise moved to Cleveland for 1976–77, Klassen increased his scoring to 14 goals in 80 games for the Barons. On January 9, 1978, after 13 games that season, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies with Fred Ahern for Chuck Arnason and Rick Jodzio, playing 44 games for Colorado. In 1978–79 he appeared in 64 games for the Rockies, tallying 19 points, and also played 18 games for the Philadelphia Firebirds of the American Hockey League.
Career statistics and honours
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1970–71 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 61 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971–72 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 62 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 64 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 1972–73 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 68 | 19 | 47 | 66 | 80 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| 1973–74 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 68 | 23 | 54 | 77 | 110 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 1974–75 | Saskatoon Blades | WCHL | 41 | 21 | 47 | 68 | 34 | 17 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 14 |
| 1975–76 | California Golden Seals | NHL | 71 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | Cleveland Barons | NHL | 80 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1977–78 | Cleveland Barons | NHL | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1977–78 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 44 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978–79 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 64 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Philadelphia Firebirds | AHL | 18 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980–81 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 66 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 23 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1981–82 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 45 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 1982–83 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 29 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 21 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| 1983–84 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | 497 | 52 | 93 | 145 | 120 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | ||
International
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Ralph Klassen (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Did You Know?
- After hockey, Klassen worked as a mail carrier for Canada Post in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
- He later lived in Kinley, Saskatchewan, and coached the Perdue Pirates Sr. Hockey club in the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ralph Klassen born?
Ralph Klassen was born on 15 September 1955 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada.
What position did Ralph Klassen play?
Ralph Klassen's position is listed as Centre.
More in Colorado Rockies Players
Test yourself
Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.
Answers checked against the source article
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ralph Klassen (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced