Ron Stewart obit

Hockey Leafs' Cup winner Ron Stewart dies

 

He was not on the list.

Ron Stewart, a member of three Stanley Cup teams with the Leafs in the 1960s and 10th in games played by a Leaf, has passed away at 79 .

Stewart, who was battling cancer, did not attend last month’s 50th reunion of the 1962 champions in Toronto. A family member says he spent his latter years splitting time between residences in Arizona and British Columbia.

Stewart was a Memorial Cup winner with Guelph and joined the Leafs in 1952-53. Toiling on teams that didn’t go far, the 6-foot-1 right winger was rewarded in the end when Toronto won three Cups between 1962-64. He was traded to Boston in 1965 and played for four other teams, including the Rangers, whom he briefly coached. The native Calgarian also managed minor league and junior teams in Western Canada.

Stewart played 838 regular season games for the Leafs, another 82 in the playoffs and was appreciated for his up-beat nature.

After the 1969–1970 season ended, Stewart and Rangers teammate Terry Sawchuk, both of whom had been drinking, argued over expenses for the house they rented together on Long Island, New York. Sawchuk suffered severe internal injuries during the scuffle. Sawchuk told the police that he accepted full responsibility for the events. Sawchuk never recovered and died shortly thereafter from a pulmonary embolism on May 31, 1970 at the age of 40. A Nassau County grand jury exonerated Stewart and ruled that Sawchuk's death was accidental.

He is survived by second wife Linda and three sons by his first marriage to Barbara.

 

Career statistics

                         Regular season              Playoffs

Season Team            League            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM

1949–50            Toronto Marlboros            OHA-Jr.        30            2            5            7            41            5            0            1            1            8

1950–51            Toronto Marlboros            OHA-Jr.        53            22            23            45            49            13            6            8            14            31

1951–52            Toronto Marlboros            OHA-Jr.        21            9            10            19            57            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Barrie Flyers   OHA-Jr.        29            13            18            31            43            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Guelph Biltmores            OHA-Jr.        —            —            —            —            —            11            7            7            14            4

1951–52            Guelph Biltmores            MC            —            —            —            —            —            12            10            7            17            10

1952–53            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            70            13            22            35            29            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            70            14            11            25            72            —            —            —            —            —

1954–55            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            53            14            5            19            20            4            0            0            0            2

1955–56            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            69            13            14            27            35            5            1            1            2            2

1956–57            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            65            15            20            35            28            —            —            —            —            —

1957–58            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            70            15            24            39            51            —            —            —            —            —

1958–59            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            70            21            13            34            23            12            3            3            6            6

1959–60            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            67            14            20            34            28            10            0            2            2            2

1960–61            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            51            13            12            25            8            5            1            0            1            2

1961–62            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            60            8            9            17            14            11            1            6            7            4

1962–63            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            63            16            16            32            26            10            4            0            4            2

1963–64            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            65            14            5            19            46            14            0            4            4            24

1964–65            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            65            16            11            27            33            6            0            1            1            2

1965–66            Boston Bruins   NHL            70            20            16            36            17            —            —            —            —            —

1966–67            Boston Bruins   NHL            56            14            10            24            31            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            St. Louis Blues            NHL            19            7            5            12            11            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            New York Rangers            NHL            55            7            7            14            19            6            1            1            2            2

1968–69            New York Rangers            NHL            75            18            11            29            20            4            0            1            1            0

1969–70            New York Rangers            NHL            76            14            10            24            14            6            0            0            0            2

1970–71            New York Rangers            NHL            76            5            6            11            19            13            1            0            1            0

1971–72            Providence Reds            AHL            18            6            5            11            2            —            —            —            —            —

1971–72            Vancouver Canucks            NHL            42            3            1            4            10            —            —            —            —            —

1971–72            New York Rangers            NHL            13            0            2            2            2            8            2            1            3            0

1972–73            New York Rangers            NHL            11            0            1            1            0            —            —            —            —            —

1972–73            New York Islanders            NHL            22            2            2            4            4            10            5            7            12            6

NHL totals            1,353            276            253            529            560            119            14            21            35            60

Coaching record

Team    Year            Regular season  Post season

G         W            L            T            Pts            Finish            Result

New York Rangers            1975–76        39            15            20            4            (34)            4th in Patrick (fired)

Los Angeles Kings   1977–78        80            31            34            15            77            3rd in Norris  Lost in preliminary round

Total    119            46            54            19