It is with great sadness that we inform you that legendary Detroit Red Wing Leonard “Red” Kelly has passed away at 91 years old. The team has announced that he passed away Thursday morning in Toronto.
The Detroit #RedWings are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Leonard "Red" Kelly, who passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 91: https://t.co/ChuONJrTIi pic.twitter.com/DkMJHeIfHi
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) May 2, 2019
“Red was a devoted husband and caring father and grandfather and was tremendously proud of his many hockey accomplishments. He was very moved by decades of love and support from Red Wings fans and was humbled to have his jersey retired earlier this year. We are comforted in knowing that he impacted so many people both at and away from the rink and know that his life will be celebrated. Arrangements will be announced once they are finalized.”
Kelly’s became the eighth player in franchise history to have his number retired, when his #4 sweater was lifted to the rafters before the team’s February 1st matchup against Toronto.
Kelly played the first 13 of his professional seasons with the Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups and scoring 472 points from the 1947-48 season until the 1959-60 season. He played the final eight years of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he won four more Stanley Cup championships (1962-64, 1967) before retiring as a player. Over the course of his 1,316 regular season games, Kelly scored a total of 823 points. He also played in 164 playoff games throughout his career, scoring a whopping 92 points. He went on to enjoy a 10 year coaching career in the NHL, with stops in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.
He won the Lady Byng Trophy on four separate occasions, as well as the inaugural Norris Trophy in 1953-54, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has also released a statement regarding Kelly’s passing, which can be read by following this link.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kelly family.
