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Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly dies at age 91

Obit Red Kelly Hockey

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2019, file photo, former Detroit Red Wings player Red Kelly stands beside his Canadian stamp during the unveiling of the NHL stamp series featuring defensemen from the original six NHL teams, at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Kelly, a defenseman-turned-center whose Hall of Fame career included eight Stanley Cups while playing for Detroit and Toronto, has died, Thursday, May 1, 2019, in Toronto, He was 91. (Hannah Yoon/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

AP

TORONTO (AP) -- Red Kelly, the defenseman-turned-center whose Hall of Fame career included eight Stanley Cups while playing for Detroit and Toronto, has died. He was 91.

Kelly’s family said in a statement that he died Thursday in Toronto.

Kelly spent nearly 13 seasons with Detroit, helping the Red Wings win four championships from 1950-55. In 1954, he was the first winner of the James Norris Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s top defenseman.

After being traded to Toronto during the 1959-60 season, Kelly became a forward and scored at least 20 goals in each of his first three full seasons with the Maple Leafs. Toronto won the Stanley Cup four times from 1962-67.

While with Toronto, Kelly was also a member of Parliament. He was elected as the Liberal MP for York-West in 1962 and again in ’63.

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