Red Kelly was born 1927 in Simcoe Ontario. He wore #4 playing centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kelly played 8 seasons with Toronto from 1959-60 to 1966-67.Kelly came from the Detroit Red Wings were he played as a defenceman, helping the Wings win 4 Stanley Cups in 1950,1952,1954, and 1955. With Detroit Kelly won the Lady Byng trophy 3 times and was the first player awarded the Norris trophy for the best defenceman. Wow all that and now playing in Toronto with the Maple Leafs in 1960.
Kelly inspired his teammates to give their best effort, and they did when he came to Toronto the Leafs had not won a Stanley Cup since 1951, Kelly won the Lady Byng trophy in 1961 with the Leafs, and then helped his team win 4 Stanley Cups in 1962,1963,1964, and 1967.
Kelly handled the puck very well at both ends of the rink, he moved the puck up ice swiftly starting a play and would get back just as fast to defend. Playing in Toronto Kelly moved up to a centre position with Frank Mahovlich on his wing. His new coach Punch Imlach told Kelly, if we`re going to win the Stanley Cup we have to go through Montreal to do it. Kelly and Mahovlich played well together well enough for Kelly to help Mahovlich become a scoring power, and together with the rest of the Leaf team they helped each other win 4 Stanley Cups in the 1960`s.
