Red Sullivan
Sullivan on a 1960 Topps card
Born (1929-12-24)December 24, 1929
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Died January 19, 2019(2019-01-19) (aged 89)
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
New York Rangers
Playing career 1949–1961

George James "Red" Sullivan (December 24, 1929 – January 19, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1949 to 1961. After finishing his playing career Sullivan became a coach, serving in that role between 1962 and 1975.

Playing career

George "Red" Sullivan began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins (1949–1953). He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks (1954–1956) and the New York Rangers (1956–1961).

Sullivan led the Chicago Black Hawks in scoring for his two years in Chicago before being traded to the New York Rangers prior to the start of the 1956-57 season. Sullivan played in the NHL All-Star game five times (1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960) and was named the New York Rangers captain for the 1957-58 season. He remained the Rangers captain through the 1960-61 season, his last as an NHL player.

Sullivan was severely injured, and very nearly killed, on November 26, 1956, when defenceman Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens speared him in the stomach, rupturing his spleen, where a Catholic priest was even brought to the hospital to deliver his last rites, however Sullivan survived and resumed his career with the New York Rangers.[1]

During 556 NHL games, he scored 107 goals with 239 assists for 346 points.

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Sullivan at No. 66 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.[2]

Coaching career

1964 photo of Sullivan as coach of the New York Rangers

Sullivan became the head coach of the Rangers during the 1962–63 season when fans began to demand Muzz Patrick resign. He coached a rather bad team until December 1965 when the Rangers' general manager, Emile Francis decided he himself would take over as head coach.

Sullivan then coached the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first season. He was dismissed on March 31, 1969 after two consecutive seasons of the Penguins failing to qualify for the playoffs due to a pair of fifth-place finishes.[3]

During the 1974-1975 NHL season, Sullivan replaced Jim Anderson as head coach of the expansion Washington Capitals. Sullivan posted a 2-16 record as head coach and was replaced later that season by Milt Schmidt.[4]

He died on January 19, 2019, after suffering for a number of years with Alzheimer's / dementia.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1947–48 St. Catharines Teepees OHA 26 10 12 22 34 3 2 3 5 0
1948–49 St. Catharines Teepees OHA 46 32 48 80 53 5 6 4 10 6
1949–50 St. Catharines Teepees OHA 13 14 15 29 19 — — — — —
1949–50 Boston Bruins NHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
1949–50 Hershey Bears AHL 51 10 30 40 36 — — — — —
1950–51 Hershey Bears AHL 70 28 56 84 36 6 1 2 3 0
1950–51 Boston Bruins NHL — — — — — 2 0 0 0 2
1951–52 Boston Bruins NHL 67 12 12 24 24 7 0 0 0 0
1952–53 Boston Bruins NHL 32 3 8 11 8 3 0 0 0 0
1952–53 Hershey Bears AHL 36 10 40 50 18 — — — — —
1953–54 Hershey Bears AHL 69 30 89 119 54 11 2 7 9 4
1954–55 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 19 42 61 51 — — — — —
1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 63 14 26 40 58 — — — — —
1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 42 6 17 23 36 5 1 2 3 4
1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 70 11 35 46 61 1 0 0 0 0
1958–59 New York Rangers NHL 70 21 42 63 56 — — — — —
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 70 12 25 37 81 — — — — —
1960–61 New York Rangers NHL 70 9 31 40 66 — — — — —
1961–62 Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers EPHL 61 16 46 62 81 7 1 6 7 4
1962–63 Baltimore Clippers AHL 31 14 22 36 25 — — — — —
NHL totals 557 107 239 346 441 18 1 2 3 6

Coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T Pts Finish Result
New York Rangers 1962–63 36 11 18 8 (56) 5th in NHL Missed playoffs
New York Rangers 1963–64 70 22 38 10 54 5th in NHL Missed playoffs
New York Rangers 1964–65 70 20 38 12 52 5th in NHL Missed playoffs
New York Rangers 1965–66 20 5 10 5 (47) 6th in NHL (fired)
Pittsburgh Penguins 1967–68 74 27 34 13 (67) 5th in West Missed playoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins 1968–69 76 20 45 11 51 5th in West Missed playoffs
Washington Capitals 1974–75 18 2 16 0 (21) 5th in Norris (fired)
NHL Total 364 107 199 59

References

  1. ^ "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Red Sullivan". HHOF.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Cohen, Russ; Halligan, John; Raider, Adam (2009). 100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters. John Wiley & Sons. p. 80. ISBN 978-0470736197.
  3. ^ "Penguins fire Sullivan," The Associated Press, Tuesday, April 1, 1969.
  4. ^ Washington Capitals Club History Archived 2008-08-26 at the Wayback Machine