Former Maple Leaf Ron Ellis dead at age 79

Ron Ellis, a forward who played his entire 16-season NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, has passed away at the age of 79.

Ellis recorded 640 points in 1,034 games, hitting the 30-goal mark twice and scored 20 goals in a season 11 times. Ellis ranks fifth on Toronto’s all-time list in games played as well as goals.

He was a part of the last Maple Leafs team to win the Stanley Cup in 1967, tallying two goals and an assist in 12 postseason games that year.

The Lindsay, Ontario, native also represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, which Canada won 4-3.

“We mourn the loss of Ron Ellis, a lifetime Leaf whose legacy is woven into the fabric of the blue and white,” the Toronto Maple Leafs said in a statement.

“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.”

The NHL Alumni Association posted on X saying they are “heartbroken” about the passing of Ellis.

“Ron first joined the Maple Leafs roster undrafted in the 1963-64 season for one game. He would find himself joining the team full-time the following season, and would remain a Maple Leaf for the rest of his NHL career,” the statement read.

“After his playing days had ended, Ron found a new passion for helping his teammates and NHL Alumni Family. He was always available to lend an ear, his heart and help. Ellis’s contributions philanthropically were global and impactful through his work with many charities and mental health initiatives. He dedicated his life, post hockey, to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and could be found each day smiling while he led guests through the great museum archives proudly.”

In February, Ellis was a recipient of the “Keith Magnuson Man of the Year” award from the NHL Alumni Association, for “countless contributions to his community and the hockey world”.

“His family was so special to him and was his bright shining light. We send our deepest condolences to Ron’s family, his wife Jan, son RJ, daughter-in-law Renata, friends, and former teammates. Please respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time,” the statement continued.

After putting up a career-high 61 points (32 goals, 29 assists) in 1974-75, Ellis retired at age 30 during training camp the following season.

After representing Canada at the 1977 world hockey championship, he returned to the Leafs and played four more seasons.

After retiring a second time, Ellis ran his own sporting goods store in Brampton before joining the Hockey Hall of Fame as a director of public affairs and assistant to the president.

Ellis was candid about the wear-and-tear hockey took on his body. He wrote candidly of his battles with clinical depression, which he attributed to head injuries sustained while playing, in his autobiography “Over the Boards: The Ron Ellis Story” 

“I had my share of concussions and my doctors believe it led to some problems with depression I’ve had later in life.” Ellis said in a 2014 interview.

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report