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Rick Ley

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Hockey Coach

The Resume

    (November 2, 1948- )
    Born in Orillia, Ontario, Canada
    Drafted 16th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft
    Defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1969-72) and the New England/Hartford Whalers (1972-81)
    Assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks (1992-94) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (1998-2006)
    Head coach for the Hartford Whalers (1989-91) and the Vancouver Canucks (1994-96)

Why he might be annoying:

    Despite being a star in both the Ontario League and the World Hockey Association, his NHL career was a bust.
    He was known for a dirty play in the Summit Series, in which he pummeled Soviet star Valeri Kharlamov, despite the latter's refusal to fight.
    His tenure as the Whalers head coach was best known for him stripping Ron Francis of the captaincy and forcing Francis to tell the team of his decision.
    He was extremely despised by the players he coached.
    He was fired by the Canucks with six games remaining in the season due to a player revolt.
    His #2, which was retired by the Whalers, was returned to circulation when the team moved to Carolina, only to have it re-retired in honor of Glen Wesley.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He is one of a select few who played every season of the WHA's existence.
    He served as the Whalers captain for the majority of its WHA history, as well as the team's inaugural NHL season.
    He personally sought out Valeri Kharlamov to apologize to him, after which Kharlamov forgave him, citing it was part of hockey.
    He was part of the inaugural class of inductees for the WHA Hall of Fame (2010).
    Despite leaving his hometown of Orillia at the age of 16, he was extremely proud of his roots and returned to live in the city following his coaching career.

Credit: Ricky


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying