Rick Ley
Defenceman, captain, and retired number for the Hartford Whalers.
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Richard Norman Ley (born November 2, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). He is one of only three players in Hartford Whalers history to have his jersey number (#2) retired, alongside Gordie Howe and John McKenzie. Ley also served as the team’s captain for six years and later coached the franchise.
Ley was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (16th overall) of the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He played four NHL seasons with Toronto (1968–69 to 1971–72) before leaving for the New England Whalers of the WHA, where he earned significantly more money—$78,000 in his first season compared to $18,000 in his final year with the Maple Leafs. He later praised the WHA, noting that within five to seven years after the merger, half of the NHL’s top ten scorers were former WHA players, and that the league helped drive major changes in player wages. He remained with the Whalers organization through the WHA’s folding in 1979, then transitioned with the team (renamed the Hartford Whalers) into the NHL, finishing his playing career in 1981.
After the Whalers moved to Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes stopped honoring Ley’s #2 and John McKenzie’s #19, returning both numbers to circulation. However, the Hurricanes later re-retired #2 in honor of Glen Wesley.
Coaching career
Ley began his coaching career in the International Hockey League with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, leading them to four first-place finishes and one championship between 1984 and 1988. He then coached the Vancouver Canucks’ IHL affiliate in Milwaukee, posting a record of 259–123–38. On June 7, 1989, he was named head coach of the Hartford Whalers. Known for an aggressive, hard-nosed style similar to his playing days, he led the team to consecutive fourth-place finishes and first-round playoff losses to the Boston Bruins.
He had significant disputes with team owner Richard Gordon, whom Ley described as a pleasant but terrible owner who knew nothing about running a hockey team. Gordon pushed to remove Ron Francis as captain and trade four players with expiring contracts, leading to an untenable relationship. General manager Eddie Johnston fired Ley in May 1991.
Ley then rejoined the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach under Pat Quinn for three seasons (1991–92 to 1993–94).
Lore & Background
Ley was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (16th overall) of the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He played four seasons with the Maple Leafs before leaving to join the New England Whalers of the WHA, citing a significant salary increase—he stated he was paid $18,000 in his last year with Toronto and $78,000 in his first season with New England. He later expressed appreciation for the WHA, noting that half of the top ten scorers in the NHL five to seven years after the merger were former WHA players, and that the league helped bring about real changes in wages for professional hockey players.
Ley remained with the Whalers' organization 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 team (which became the Hartford Whalers) and finished his professional playing career in 1981. He spent six years as the Whalers' captain and was one of three players in Hartford Whalers history to have his jersey number retired (#2). Following the Whalers' move to Raleigh, the Hurricanes ceased to honor Ley's #2 and returned the number to circulation, although #2 was later re-retired by the Hurricanes in honor of Glen Wesley.
Reader's Guide
Rick Ley's significance lies in his dual role as a player and coach who bridged the WHA and NHL eras. As a player, he was a cornerstone of the New England/Hartford Whalers franchise, serving as captain for six years and having his number retired—an honor shared only with Gordie Howe and John McKenzie. His move from the NHL to the WHA exemplified the financial impact of the rival league, as he tripled his salary and later credited the WHA with transforming hockey's economics. After his playing career, Ley transitioned to coaching, leading the Muskegon Lumberjacks to four first-place finishes and one championship in the IHL.
He was named head coach of the Hartford Whalers in 1989, leading them to consecutive fourth-place finishes and first-round playoff defeats by the Boston Bruins. His tenure was marked by disputes with team owner Richard Gordon, whom Ley described as knowing nothing about running a hockey team. Ley later served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks and as an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.
Career statistics and honours
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1964–65 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 50 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
| 1964–65 | Niagara Falls Flyers | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 1965–66 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 46 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 180 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| 1966–67 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 48 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 128 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 24 |
| 1967–68 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 53 | 16 | 48 | 64 | 81 | 19 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 38 |
| 1967–68 | Niagara Falls Flyers | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 |
| 1968–69 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1968–69 | Tulsa Oilers | CHL | 19 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1969–70 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 48 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1970–71 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 76 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 151 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1971–72 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 124 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1972–73 | New England Whalers | WHA | 76 | 3 | 27 | 30 | 108 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| 1973–74 | New England Whalers | WHA | 72 | 6 | 35 | 41 | 148 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| 1974–75 | New England Whalers | WHA | 72 | 6 | 36 | 42 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 32 |
| 1975–76 | New England Whalers | WHA | 67 | 8 | 30 | 38 | 78 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 49 |
| 1976–77 | New England Whalers | WHA | 55 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 102 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 1977–78 | New England Whalers | WHA | 73 | 3 | 41 | 44 | 95 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1978–79 | New England Whalers | WHA | 73 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 135 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 1979–80 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 65 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | 310 | 12 | 72 | 84 | 528 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | ||
| WHA totals | 478 | 35 | 210 | 245 | 716 | 73 | 7 | 33 | 40 | 142 | ||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Canada | SS | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Rick Ley (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rick Ley born?
Rick Ley was born on 2 November 1948 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.
What position did Rick Ley play?
Rick Ley's position is listed as defence.
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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: Rick Ley (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
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