Shot Right Height 1.83 m Playing career Weight 88 kg | Name Ehrhardt Heller Position Defenseman Role Ice hockey player | |
Born June 2, 1910Berlin, ON, CAN ( 1910-06-02 ) Died June 15, 1980, Kitchener, Canada Played for | ||
Ehrhardt Henry "Ott" Heller (June 2, 1910 – June 15, 1980) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman. Originally a right wing, Heller learned to play as a defenseman early in his career.
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Career
Heller started his National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers in 1931, signing with the team as a free agent on November 2, 1931. He would his entire career with the Rangers and retire after the 1946 season. In 1941, he was a member of the NHL All-Star Team. He won 2 Stanley Cups in 1933 and 1940. He served as Captain of the Rangers from 1942 to 1945.
Coaching
After leaving the Rangers in 1946, Heller had several head coaching stints in the minors, where he often had the dual role of player-coach. He led the Indianapolis Capitals to the Calder Cup as a player-coach during the 1949-50 AHL season, a team that had future Hockey Hall Of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk in net for 61 out of a possible 70 games.
Heller finished his career with the Chatham Sr. Maroons in 1956, scoring two assists in seven games.
Death
Heller died on June 15, 1980 in his hometown of Kitchener, less than two weeks after his 70th birthday.
Legacy
In 2009, Heller was ranked No. 25 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons).