Larry Jeffrey

Lawrence Joseph Jeffrey (October 12, 1940 – July 18, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played forward. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League from 1961 to 1969. Jeffrey was a member of the 1967 Stanley Cup-winning Maple Leafs.

Larry Jeffrey
Born (1940-10-12)October 12, 1940
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
Died July 18, 2022(2022-07-18) (aged 81)
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Playing career 1958–1969

Career

Jeffrey was from Goderich, Ontario. He began playing junior ice hockey in 1956, spending five years with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs and Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Association. He then played for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He won the WHL's rookie of the year award.[1] With Hamilton, Jeffrey suffered a knee injury that tore a ligament and required surgery.[1][2] Jeffrey made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1961–62 season, playing in 18 regular season games.[1] He was injured in a practice and had his second knee surgery to repair a torn ligament.[2]

In May 1965, the Red Wings traded Jeffrey, Marcel Pronovost, Aut Erickson, Eddie Joyal, and Lowell MacDonald to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Andy Bathgate, Billy Harris, and Gary Jarrett.[3] After struggling with coach Punch Imlach for a season, Jeffrey requested a trade, and Toronto assigned Jeffrey to the Rochester Americans of the AHL.[1] After the Americans won the Calder Cup, the Maple Leafs promoted Jeffrey. Jeffrey played for the Maple Leafs in the 1967 Stanley Cup playoffs, though he injured his leg again in the semifinals against the Chicago Black Hawks, before the Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals.[1][2][4] He participated in the trophy presentation on Maple Leaf Gardens ice following the decisive Game 6, wearing a suit and on crutches.[1][2]

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Jeffrey from the Maple Leafs in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft and traded him to the New York Rangers for three minor league players.[5] In June 1969, the Rangers traded Jeffrey to the Red Wings for Terry Sawchuk and Sandy Snow.[6] Jeffrey fractured his kneecap during the preseason, requiring surgery,[7] and retired as a player in 1969 due to the worsening chronic pain in his knee.[8] Jeffrey had 11 knee surgeries over the course of nine years,[2] and 14 knee surgeries in total.[1] He played in 368 NHL games, scoring 39 goals and 62 assists. He had four goals and 10 assists in 38 postseason games. Jeffrey worked as a scout for eight years after his playing career.[9]

Personal life

Jeffrey married Sharon Somerville in 1964, and they had two children. He raised horses and Hereford cattle on his 120-acre (49 ha) farm north of Goderich.[1]

Jeffrey died in Goderich on July 18, 2022, at age 81.[10][11][12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1957–58 Hamilton Kilty B's OHA-B ————— —————
1957–58 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA ————— 90000
1958–59 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 54212041149 —————
1959–60 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 4614243884 —————
1959–60 Hershey Bears AHL 50332 —————
1960–61 Hamilton Red Wings OHA 48283260105 1263939
1961–62 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1853820 —————
1961–62 Edmonton Flyers WHL 4820224280 —————
1962–63 Detroit Red Wings NHL 535111662 93368
1962–63 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 211472112 —————
1963–64 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5810182887 1416728
1964–65 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4142648 20000
1965–66 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2011222 —————
1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 5110203036 1265114
1966–67 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5611172827 60114
1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 4724615 30000
1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 7516712 40002
NHL totals 3683962101293 384101442

References
  1. "Huron County's Larry Jeffrey was part of Maple Leafs' last Stanley Cup win". goderichsignalstar. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  2. O'Connor, Joe (February 17, 2007). "A crutch player". National Post. p. S1. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Unhappy With Leafs, Bathgate Joins Wings In Giant Swap". The Gazette. May 21, 1965. p. 29. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Maple Leafs Lose Star Larry Jeffrey". Arizona Republic. April 20, 1967. p. 72. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Wheatley, W.R. (June 7, 1967). "Red Kelly Threatens To Go 'to PM' In Order To Get to Los Angeles". The Ottawa Journal. Canadian Press. p. 25. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Wings Trade Sawchuk For Larry Jeffrey". Lansing State Journal. June 20, 1969. p. 29. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Broken Knee Idles Jeffrey". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1969. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Feschuk, Dave (December 3, 2001). "'The guy on crutches'". National Post. p. 22. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Jeffrey dies at 81, won Stanley Cup with Maple Leafs in 1967". NHL.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  10. "Larry Jeffrey Obituary". McCallum & Palla Funeral Home. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  11. Duff, Bob (July 20, 2022). "Larry Jeffrey, 81, Played In Two Stanley Cup Final Series For Red Wings". Detroit Hockey Now. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  12. Montgomery, Bob (July 19, 2022). "Goderich's "Hockey Hero" passes away". blackburnnews.com. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
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