Maple Leafs fans will be able to remember one of their own this week.
The Detroit News reports that Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly will be memorialized in his hometown of Toronto. Kelly, who played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Leafs through a 20-plus year career, died last week at the age of 91.
A private funeral Mass for Kelly will be held on Friday morning at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Toronto. A public memorial for the defenceman and centre will follow at Scotiabank Arena and run until 6 p.m. Friday.
Photos and memorabilia of Kelly from his time in Detroit and Toronto will be on display at Scotiabank Arena.
Kelly played for the Wings from 1947 through the 1959-60 season, when he reluctantly accepted a trade with the Leafs, who had passed on him as a teenager. He eventually became a part of the Leafs family, winning four Stanley Cups to add to the four he won in Detroit.
While playing for the Leafs, he served as the Liberal MP for the York West riding for three years. During that time, he became an advocate of improving headgear for hockey players, having started wearing a helmet himself when he was traded to Toronto.
Kelly later coached the Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
There is no word yet from the Red Wings on any memorials for Kelly in Detroit.
