25 Facts About Red Kelly

Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly was a Canadian professional hockey player and coach.

Red Kelly was one of the only two players to have never played for the Canadiens and to be part of two of the nine dynasties recognized by the National Hockey League in its history.

In 2017, Red Kelly was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Red Kelly attended Doan's Hollow Public School in Port Dover, then attended St Michael's College School.

Red Kelly grew up listening to Foster Hewitt's broadcasts of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was particularly inspired by the style of their hard-charging defenceman, Red Horner.

Red Kelly was chosen as a First Team All-Star defenceman six times.

However, Red Kelly scuttled the deal when he announced he would retire rather than go to New York.

Maple Leafs head coach and general manager Punch Imlach stepped in and tried to talk Red Kelly into playing for him.

Once Red Kelly arrived in Toronto, Imlach asked him to switch positions and become a full-time centre, figuring that Red Kelly could easily match up against the Montreal Canadiens' Jean Beliveau.

The switch proved to be a success, as, already a great playmaker, Red Kelly turned Frank Mahovlich into one of the most lethal goal scorers in NHL history.

At the time of his retirement, Red Kelly was seventh all time in career points, fifth in assists, 13th in goals, and second only to Gordie Howe in games played.

Red Kelly guided the Kings to second place in the West Division and made the playoffs two years in a row.

Red Kelly left the Kings for a one-year contract to succeed Red Sullivan as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 2,1969.

Amid a slump in which the Penguins won only two games with three draws and seven losses and slid into fifth place in the eight-team NHL West Division, Kelly was fired and replaced by Ken Schinkel on January 13,1973.

Red Kelly returned to the Maple Leafs after signing a four-year contract to succeed John McLellan as coach on August 20,1973.

Red Kelly coached 742 regular season games during his NHL career of which his team won 278, lost 300 and tied 134.

Red Kelly coached 62 NHL playoff games winning 24 of these.

Red Kelly was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1962 federal election in the York West electoral district, the first Liberal party member to do so since 1935.

Red Kelly defeated Conservative incumbent John Hamilton, 30,762 to 27,060 votes.

Red Kelly was easily re-elected in the following year's election, beating his Progressive Conservative opponent, future NHL agent Alan Eagleson by an almost 13,000 vote margin.

Red Kelly continued to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs during his terms as a Member of Parliament.

Red Kelly did not seek re-election in 1965, but left federal politics after his two terms in the 25th and 26th Canadian Parliaments, because he wanted more time with his family.

Red Kelly was succeeded in York West by fellow Liberal Robert Winters.

Red Kelly married Andra Carol McLaughlin, an American figure skating star, in 1959.

Red Kelly was the granduncle of hockey player Mark Jankowski of the Calgary Flames.