Former Maple Leafs Player Ron Ellis, Passes Away at 79

Former Toronto Maple Leafs player Ron Ellis, who amassed over 1,000 games with the team and was a pivotal member of Canada’s victorious team at the 1972 Summit Series, has passed away at the age of 79.

The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed Ellis’s death through social media on Saturday, May 11, 2024, though the cause of death was not disclosed.

Ellis dedicated his entire 15-season NHL career to the Toronto Maple Leafs, contributing significantly to the team’s success.

He racked up an impressive 640 points, comprising 332 goals and 308 assists, across 1,034 games. Notably, Ellis was a four-time all-star and was part of the last Maple Leafs squad to clinch the Stanley Cup in the 1966-67 season.

In a heartfelt statement, the Maple Leafs expressed their sorrow at Ellis’s passing, highlighting his enduring impact on the team and the sport: “Ron played his entire NHL career for Toronto. He was one of only five Maple Leafs to skate in more than 1,000 games for the club while also scoring the fifth most goals in team history. Ron was a true gentleman of the game who will be deeply missed.”

Renowned for his consistent offensive prowess, Ellis recorded an impressive 11 seasons with 20 or more goals, achieving the milestone of surpassing the 30-goal mark on two occasions.

In a touching tribute in 1968, Leafs icon Ace Bailey requested that the club unretire his No. 6 jersey so that Ellis could wear it. Ellis, who previously wore No. 8, donned Bailey’s number for the remainder of his career, spanning 11 seasons.

On the international stage, Ellis played a pivotal role in Canada’s triumph over the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series, featuring prominently on a line with Bobby Clarke and Paul Henderson.

After retiring briefly in 1975, Ellis returned to the Leafs’ fold and continued to make significant contributions to the team’s success.

Following his second retirement from playing, Ellis transitioned into entrepreneurship, running his own sporting goods store in Brampton. He later joined the Hockey Hall of Fame, serving as a director of public affairs and assistant to the president, where he continued to make meaningful contributions to the sport he loved.