The Summit in 1974




Club 1974:
New England Whalers

 
Rick Ley
# 2, Team CANADA 1974

Club: New England Whalers
Position: D  Shoots: Left
Height: 5-09 Weight: 190
Born: 11/2/1948 in Orillia, Ontario

Rick (Rickey) Ley along with Brad Selwood, and Jim Dorey, was member of the Toronto Maple Leafs "Kiddie Korp" defense of the late 1960's and early 1970's. Ley, was a strong, pugnacious defenseman who made life miserable for opposing forwards in the Toronto zone. Never much of an offense player, Rickey was rock solid in his own zone.

In 1972 Ley, along with Selwood and Dorey jumped from the Maple Leafs to the New England Whalers of the brand new WHA. In that first ever WHA season of 1972-73 Ley was a key component of the Whalers championship team. Later in 1978-79 he would be voted the WHA's finest defenseman and his number was retired by the Whalers franchise.

He was named to Team Canada 74 by Billy Harris. Before the series Harris spoke to Ley and impressed upon him the need to play a more disciplined brand of hockey and above all avoid any fights. Rickey had the reputation of being a very able, and willing fighter. With the severe penalties for fighting present in International rules, Harris knew Ley would have to control himself. Ley except for one unfortunate lapse of judgment at the end of Game 6 where he attacked Valery Kharlamov and beat him brutally, followed Harris's instructions and played very solid, capable defense throughout most of the Summit.

 


  Career Statistics
Competitions GP G A PTS PIM
NHL Reg. Season 310 12 72 84 528
NHL Playoffs 478 35 210 245 716
WHA Reg. Season 478 35 210 245 716
WHA Playoffs 73 7 33 40 122

CAREER HIGHLIGTS:

- Played in the professional hockey leagues: 1968-81
- Pro hockey clubs:
NHL: Toronto, Hartford; WHA: New England
- AVCO Trophy (1): 1973
- WHA awards:
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy (Best Defenseman) 1979
WHA All Star (1st Team) 1979
WHA All Star (3rd Team) 1973

PERFORMANCE IN THE 1974 SUMMIT

 Statistics
GP Goals Assists Points PIM
7 0 1 1 4

  Scoring History
GamePeriodTimeScoringNotes
Game 8312:42Assist 

  Penalties History
GamePeriodTimeDescription
Game 4205:07roughing
Game 5106:52roughing
Game 6308:00game misconduct
Game 8202:18interference

 

 

 

The Summit in 1974