| Ron Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1932 Calgary, AB, CAN |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) |
| Position | Centre |
| Shot | Right |
| Played for | New York Islanders New York Rangers Vancouver Canucks St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Playing career | 1952–1973 |
Ronald George Stewart (born July 11, 1932 in Calgary, Alberta) is a retired professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as an NHL coach.
Contents |
Ron continued to develop into a formidable hockey player, and played his first two seasons of junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros, until being traded to three different teams in his last year of OHA play. The Marlboros traded Stewart to the Windsor Spitfires where he played only two games, then moved on to the Barrie Flyers. He was acquired by Guelph for the playoffs, where he played exceptionally as the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters won the Memorial Cup in 1952.
The next season saw Stewart make his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he would play for thirteen straight seasons. Stewart joined the team while they were in the process of rebuilding but would see better days down the road. The Leafs and Stewart would win three straight Stanley Cup championships from 1961–62 to 1963–64. During his time in Toronto, Stewart played in four All-Star Games, '55, '62, '63 and '64.
Stewart finally left the Leafs when he was traded to the Bruins in 1965, where he spent two seasons.
From Boston, he was claimed by the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft but was traded to the New York Rangers during the season.
Stewart was involved in a tragic incident in New York that claimed the life of famed goaltender Terry Sawchuk, his housemate at the time. Alcohol was involved and none of the witnesses could accurately recall what triggered the dispute, but many speculate that Sawchuk confronted Stewart about household chores. According to Emile Francis, Sawchuk's and Stewart's coach at that time, in an interview that can be viewed on "Legends of Hockey," Stewart took a swing at Sawchuk in the bar, they were then told to leave, and Sawchuk afterwards took a swing at Stewart when they returned home. Apparently, Sawchuk's blow had glanced off Stewart and he fell into a barbecue pit, seriously injuring himself. Sawchuk died from these injuries despite being operated on.
After three years with the Rangers, Stewart was traded to Vancouver, only to be dealt back to New York for their run for the Cup in 1972. Boston defeated the Rangers in the Cup final. After being dealt one last time, to the Islanders in the 1972–73 season, he retired from the game as a player.
Stewart stepped behind the bench to coach minor league teams and made it back to the NHL for the 1975–76 season as the coach of the Rangers and then with the Los Angeles Kings for 1977–78.
Back in his hometown of Calgary, Stewart became the manager of a couple of local junior teams. Stewart, now retired, lives in Florida.
| Preceded by Emile Francis |
Head coach of the New York Rangers 1975-76 |
Succeeded by John Ferguson, Sr. |
| Preceded by Bob Pulford |
Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings 1977-78 |
Succeeded by Bob Berry |
|
|
|||||