This article was originally published on January 8. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the death of Ron Ellis (1945-2024) on May 11.
Ron Ellis, who played his entire 1,034-game career exclusively with the Leafs, has done a lousy job promoting himself over the years. He is one of the most modest, unassuming superstars you’ll ever meet. He’s never sought the limelight but has given so much back to the game of hockey and to the team he loves.
But by not tooting his own horn, Ellis has sadly been overlooked by the team that he spent almost 15 seasons with, accumulating some splendid personal statistics in the process.
For example, did you know Ellis is:
- sixth all-time in points scored for the Leafs.
- fifth all-time in games played for the Leafs.
- fourth all-time in goals scored for the Leafs. (That’s right. Only Mats Sundin, Darryl Sittler, and Dave Keon have scored more goals in blue and white — although Auston Matthews is only three goals behind Ellis, and at the rate he’s putting the biscuit in the basket, he could surpass Ellis Tuesday night when the Leafs host the San Jose Sharks.)
And, of course, Ellis played a key role on Toronto’s last Stanley Cup winning team, in 1967, playing in all 12 playoff games that year and scoring the first goal in the sixth and final game, which the Leafs won 3-1 over the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens.
Left: The author (right) with his brother, Jeff, and Ron Ellis (centre) in the Leafs' dressing room in 1970. Right: The author (right) with Ellis at a game in 2023. (Courtesy of Steve Paikin)
But Ellis deserves recognition for more than just what he accomplished in a Maple Leaf uniform. He played for Team Canada 1972, and, while he expected to get very little ice time, he ended up being one of the very few players to lace up in all eight games. He was also on one of that iconic team’s most effective lines with Paul Henderson and Bobby Clarke.
Ellis, a native of Lindsay, suffered mightily to realize his dream of becoming a professional hockey player. He patrolled right-wing at a time when players didn’t wear helmets and teams didn’t recognize (or care much about) their players sustaining concussions. Ellis suffered multiple concussions but continued to “get back out there” for his team. As he got deeper into his career, the effects of those concussions became more pronounced. Ellis suffered from terrible depression.
Ron Ellis presenting jerseys to Canadian Forces soldiers. (Steve Paikin)
After his career ended in 1981, Ellis gave back to the game by working at the Hockey Hall of Fame and raising money for concussion research and treatment. In fact, the University Health Network named its Hull-Ellis Concussion and Research Clinic in downtown Toronto after Ellis and his Team Canada 1972 teammate, Dennis Hull.
For reasons I’ve yet to understand, the Leafs have never accorded Ellis the tributes he so richly deserves. He wore Number 6 for almost his entire career, despite the fact that the number had been retired for one of the all-time Leaf greats, Ace Bailey. But Bailey loved the way Ellis played and asked the team to “unretire” his number so Ellis could wear it.
The author (centre) at a fundraiser for the Hull-Ellis Concussion and Research Clinic with Ron Ellis (left) and former teammate Frank Mahovlich. (Courtesy of Steve Paikin)
And, yet, look up to the rafters in Scotiabank Arena and you won’t find Ellis’s “6” up there.
It should be.
Furthermore, almost 10 years ago, the Leafs created “Legends Row” at the southwest corner of Scotiabank Arena to honour important players in the team’s history. There are now 14 life-size statues on the granite bench, but Ellis still isn’t one of them.
He should be.
Ellis’s name on the Stanley Cup for the 1966-67 season. (Steve PaikiN)
Here’s an idea I hope the Leafs steal. Ellis will turn 80 years old on January 8, 2025. Spend the next year figuring out how to honour this great gentleman of the game. It would be the most wonderful 80th birthday present for one of the franchise’s all-time classiest guys.
C’mon, Leafs. It’s Ron Ellis. He deserves it.
Donate