Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79

Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, died at the age of 79.

The Maple Leafs acknowledged Ellis’ passing on social media Saturday. The reason of death was not provided.
Ellis spent his entire 15-season NHL career in Toronto, recording 640 points (332 goals, 308 assists) in 1,034 games. He is one of five players to reach 1,000 games for the club. He was a four-time all-star and a part of the Maple Leafs’ last Stanley Cup-winning squad, in 1966-67.

Ellis was a consistent offensive threat, scoring 20 or more goals in 11 seasons and surpassing 30 goals twice.

Ellis got a rare tribute.

In 1968, Leafs veteran Ace Bailey requested that the club bring his No. 6 out of retirement so Ellis could wear it. Ellis, who was wearing No. 8 at the time, wore Bailey’s number for the last 11 seasons of his career.

Ellis played all eight games in Canada’s Summit Series victory over the Soviet Union, sharing a line with Bobby Clarke and Paul Henderson.

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