NHL fraternity remembers hockey legend Kelly

Red Kelly, an eight-time NHL champion who died at 91 on May 2, was remembered by former teammates, colleagues and executives at Friday's funeral in Toronto for his contributions to the game and his community. Born Leonard Patrick Kelly, the native of Simcoe, Ontario, made his mark with both the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs during a 20-year NHL career from 1947-67. Each organization won four Cups with Kelly, who switched from defense to center midway through his playing days and went on to be named one of the NHL's top 100 players.

"It was the ability to be the person he was that was so important," former Toronto teammate Bob Baun said in a Toronto Star article. "Red never did change, always such a great guy, very thoughtful and caring. He was as honest as the day is long." Other former Maple Leafs players, serving as honorary pallbearers with Baun at the funeral, included Eddie Shack, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald, Dick Duff, Ron Ellis, Dave Keon and Jim Gregory.

"One of the all-timers," said Shack, another former Toronto teammate of Kelly's. "One of the greatest." Said McDonald, who played in the 1970s for Toronto when Kelly was the coach: "He was a hero to us all. We all looked up to him ... how he lived his life. He showed us the way."

Also among those in attendance at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church were NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Kyle Dubas, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman and team president Christopher Ilitch, and former Toronto captain Wendel Clark. "As much as he loved the game and he gave great service to the game and to this country ... family was always first," Bettman said. "That's something I always respected about him. Great, great man."

Kelly retired after the 1966-1967 season, collecting career totals of 281 goals and 542 assists in 1,316 regular-season games, and 33 goals and 59 assists in 164 playoff contests. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

(With inputs from agencies.)