Mr. Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly, C.M. ’47†

* Professional Hockey Player * Hockey Hall of Fame * Mentor * Alumnus

Mr. Red Kelly came to St. Michael’s in 1943. He was a member of the St. Michael’s Majors from 1944 to 1947, the year he led the team to the Memorial Cup.

After St. Michael’s, he had an illustrious 20-year career in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Red played on eight Stanley Cup teams. He played on 13 All-Star games, won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman and also won the Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) four times.

After his playing career ended, he coached for nine years in the NHL. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. Mr. Kelly was elected a federal Member of Parliament in 1962 and served in the legislature for three years. He was named to the Order of Canada in 2001. His two sons, Patrick and Conn also graduated from St. Michael’s.

Whenever St. Michael’s called upon “Red” to help with a school activity he was always willing to give his support.

The Order of St. Michael is to be conferred on an alumnus who has brought honour to St. Michael’s through his work, who is an exemplary family man, who is a model for students and who is respectful of religion. No one fits this description better than Mr. Leonard “Red” Kelly. It was with great pride that St. Michael’s inducted “Red” into the Order of St. Michael.