Harold Lloyd Ailsby (May 11, 1917 – May 8, 2007)[1] was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and coach. A career minor leaguer, he played three games for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1951–52 season.

Lloyd Ailsby
Born (1917-05-11)May 11, 1917
Lac Pelletier, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died May 8, 2007(2007-05-08) (aged 89)
Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Playing career 1936–1958

Playing career

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Lloyd Ailsby played junior hockey in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for the Moose Jaw Canucks in 1934-35, and the following year for the Regina Capitals of the Southern Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League.[2] In 1936, he was first signed by the New York Rangers, and played for their affiliate teams, the New York Rovers and Philadelphia Ramblers for the next few years.[1] With the outbreak of World War II, Ailsby served with the Canadian military, and missed a couple of seasons.[1] After the war, Ailsby joined the St. Paul Saints of the old USHL, and played for them when they won the league championship in 1949.[2] Ailsby was a Second Team All Star every year he played for St. Paul.[1]

In 1951, the Rangers brought him back to the Rovers, and installed him as a playing coach for them.[3] In December 1951, the Rangers called him up,[4] and he played three games for them, wearing number 17,[1] without scoring any points. Ailsby returned to the Rovers, and went on to serve as playing coach in Seattle and later with the Johnstown Jets of the EHL. He was named an EHL First Team All Star in 1957.[5] He returned to the Rovers as a non-playing coach in 1960-61, and was replaced after the season by Rovers defenceman John Muckler,[6] as another playing coach for the newly renamed Long Island Ducks.[7]

Personal life

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While in the Rangers organization, Ailsby met Aline Adams, an attendant at Madison Square Garden, and married her in 1941.[8] After his hockey career was over, Ailsby and his family returned to Saskatchewan, where they operated a farm outside of Swift Current.[8] Ailsby remained a hockey fan and supporter, and in 1986 was part of a group of local businessmen instrumental in securing the return of the Swift Current Broncos to the city from Lethbridge.[9] Ailsby was on the Broncos' board of directors when they won the Memorial Cup in 1989.[10]

Ailsby died in 2007, three days before turning 90, and was buried in Swift Current.[11]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1934–35 Moose Jaw Canucks S-SJHL 6 3 3 6 0
1934–35 Moose Jaw Canucks M-Cup 6 4 1 5 2
1935–36 Regina Capitals S-SSHL 16 5 2 7 6 2 0 0 0 0
1936–37 New York Rovers EAHL 47 11 21 32 0 3 2 7 2
1937–38 New York Rovers EAHL 56 28 22 50 6
1938–39 New York Rovers EAHL 53 17 13 30 38
1939–40 Philadelphia Ramblers IAHL 52 11 19 30 24
1940–41 Philadelphia Ramblers AHL 56 8 13 21 28
1941–42 Cornwall Flyers QSHL 39 9 7 16 20 5 0 1 1 2
1943–44 Moose Jaw Victorias SSHL 9 3 5 8 0
1943–44 Ottawa Commandos QSHL 8 0 2 2 4 3 2 2 4 4
1944–45 Ottawa Senators QSHL 18 6 8 14 26 2 0 0 0 4
1945–46 St. Paul Saints USHL 53 4 19 23 23 6 0 3 3 0
1946–47 New Haven Ramblers AHL 53 4 16 20 36 3 0 2 2 0
1947–48 St. Paul Saints USHL 65 7 26 33 4
1948–49 St. Paul Saints USHL 66 5 32 37 14 7 0 3 3 0
1949–50 St. Paul Saints USHL 68 5 32 37 32 3 0 3 3 0
1950–51 St. Paul Saints USHL 47 8 17 25 8 4 0 1 1 4
1951–52 New York Rangers NHL 3 0 0 0 2
1951–52 New York Rovers EAHL 27 1 12 13 14
1952–53 Seattle Bombers WHL 61 7 15 22 22 5 1 1 2 0
1953–54 Seattle Bombers WHL 34 0 5 5 6
1953–54 Nelson Maple Leafs WIHL 18 4 12 16 4 8 3 5 8 6
1953–54 Nelson Maple Leafs Al-Cup 8 0 3 3 10
1955–56 Johnstown Jets EHL 36 3 18 21 27 4 0 2 2 2
1956–57 Johnstown Jets EHL 46 6 23 29 16 6 0 1 1 0
1957–58 Johnstown Jets EHL 6 0 1 1 18
USHL totals 299 29 126 155 81 20 0 10 10 4
NHL totals 3 0 0 0 2

Coaching statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League Type GC W L T
1951–52 New York Rovers EAHL Player-Head 61 25 34 2
1952–53 Seattle Bombers WHL Player-Head 70 30 32 8
1955–56 Johnstown Jets EHL Player-Head 64 32 32 0 Lost in round 1
1956–57 Johnstown Jets EHL Player-Head 64 31 33 0 Lost in round 1
1957–58 Johnstown Jets EHL Head 64 31 30 3
1960–61 New York Rovers EHL Head 64 18 45 1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Lloyd Ailsby". All-Time Roster. New York Rangers. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Lloyd Ailsby". Players. NHL. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  3. ^ "AILSBY TO COACH ROVERS". New York Times. September 27, 1951. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Ailsby With Ranger Six After Waiting 15 Years". New York Times. December 15, 1951. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  5. ^ "AWARDS & ALL-STARS". The EHL.com. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  6. ^ "ROVERS DROP AILSBY". New York Times. February 1, 1961. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  7. ^ "John Muckler profile". Hockey db. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Aline Ailsby". In Memoriam. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  9. ^ Huber, Elizabeth (February 6, 2009). "Founders Proud of Broncos's History". Prairie Post. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  10. ^ Nieforth, Joseph. "2007 Hockey Deaths". Society for International Hockey Research. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Memory Gardens Cemetery". Saskatchewan Cemeteries Project. RootsWeb. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
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