Ray Getliffe

Raymond Getliffe (April 3, 1914 – June 15, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Born in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario), he played with the Saint John St. Peters. At the time of his death, he was believed to be the oldest living former Montreal Canadiens player. Getliffe's name is on the Stanley Cup twice, for 1939 with Boston and 1944 with Montreal. On February 6, 1943, while playing for the Canadiens he scored five goals in one game.

After finishing his playing career, Getliffe briefly officiated in the NHL. Retired from hockey, Getliffe and his wife Lorna remained in Montreal until moving to London, Ontario in 1990, where he grew up.

Getliffe died in London of liver cancer at age 94. At the time of his death, reports claimed that he was the oldest living NHL alumnus, about four months older than ex-New York Ranger and Chicago Blackhawk Clint Smith. These reports, however, overlooked players who had only played a certain number of games, such as Louis Holmes and Al Suomi.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1930–31 London Athletic Club OHA-Int. 9 9 0 9 0 2 0 0 0 4 1931–32 London Diamonds OHA-Jr. 6 8 4 12 — — — — — — 1932–33 Stratford Midgets OHA-Jr. 6 4 7 11 12 11 6 0 6 20 1933–34 Stratford Midgets OHA-Jr. 13 26 17 43 18 2 6 1 7 12 1934–35 Charlottetown Abbeys MSHL 20 15 4 19 29 — — — — — 1934–35 St. John's St. Peters SJCHL 17 35 25 60 15 12 9 14 23 11 1934–35 St. John's Beavers Exhib 2 1 1 2 6 — — — — — 1935–36 London Tecumsehs IHL 17 6 3 9 17 — — — — — 1935–36 Boston Bruins NHL 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1935–36 Boston Cubs Can-Am 29 16 14 30 14 — — — — — 1936–37 Boston Bruins NHL 48 16 15 31 28 3 2 1 3 2 1937–38 Boston Bruins NHL 36 11 13 24 16 3 0 1 1 2 1938–39 Boston Bruins NHL 43 10 12 22 11 11 1 1 2 2 1938–39 Hershey Bears IAHL 4 1 4 5 2 — — — — — 1939–40 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46 11 12 23 29 — — — — — 1940–41 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 15 10 25 25 3 1 1 2 0 1941–42 Montreal Canadiens NHL 45 11 15 26 35 3 0 0 0 0 1942–43 Montreal Canadiens NHL 50 18 28 46 26 5 0 1 1 8 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens NHL 44 28 25 53 44 9 5 4 9 16 1944–45 Montreal Canadiens NHL 41 16 7 23 34 6 0 1 1 0 NHL totals 393 136 137 273 250 45 9 10 19 30