Larry Jeffrey

Lawrence Joseph Jeffrey (October 12, 1940 – July 18, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played forward. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League from 1961 to 1969. Jeffrey was a member of the 1967 Stanley Cup-winning Maple Leafs.

Career Jeffrey was from Goderich, Ontario. He began playing junior ice hockey in 1956, spending five years with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs and Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Association. He then played for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He won the WHL's rookie of the year award. He was injured in a practice and had his second knee surgery to repair a torn ligament.

In May 1965, the Red Wings traded Jeffrey, Marcel Pronovost, Aut Erickson, Eddie Joyal, and Lowell MacDonald to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Andy Bathgate, Billy Harris, and Gary Jarrett. After struggling with coach Punch Imlach for a season, Jeffrey requested a trade, and Toronto assigned Jeffrey to the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He participated in the trophy presentation on Maple Leaf Gardens ice following the decisive game six, wearing a suit and on crutches. In June 1969, the Rangers traded Jeffrey to the Red Wings for Terry Sawchuk and Sandy Snow. Jeffrey fractured his kneecap during the preseason, requiring surgery, and retired as a player in 1969 due to the worsening chronic pain in his knee. Jeffrey had 11 knee surgeries over the course of nine years,

Personal life Jeffrey married Sharon Somerville in 1964, and they had two children. He raised horses and Hereford cattle on his farm north of Goderich.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1957–58 Hamilton Kilty B's OHA-B — — — — — — — — — — 1957–58 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA — — — — — 9 0 0 0 0 1958–59 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 54 21 20 41 149 — — — — — 1959–60 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 46 14 24 38 84 — — — — — 1959–60 Hershey Bears AHL 5 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 1960–61 Hamilton Red Wings OHA 48 28 32 60 105 12 6 3 9 39 1961–62 Detroit Red Wings NHL 18 5 3 8 20 — — — — — 1961–62 Edmonton Flyers WHL 48 20 22 42 80 — — — — — 1962–63 Detroit Red Wings NHL 53 5 11 16 62 9 3 3 6 8 1962–63 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 21 14 7 21 12 — — — — — 1963–64 Detroit Red Wings NHL 58 10 18 28 87 14 1 6 7 28 1964–65 Detroit Red Wings NHL 41 4 2 6 48 2 0 0 0 0 1965–66 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 20 1 1 2 22 — — — — — 1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 51 10 20 30 36 12 6 5 11 4 1966–67 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 56 11 17 28 27 6 0 1 1 4 1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 47 2 4 6 15 3 0 0 0 0 1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 75 1 6 7 12 4 0 0 0 2 NHL totals 368 39 62 101 293 38 4 10 14 42