Ehrhardt Heller

Ehrhardt Henry "Ott" Heller (June 2, 1910 – June 15, 1980) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers between 1931 and 1946. He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Rangers, in 1933 and 1940. Originally a right wing, Heller learned to play as a defenseman early in his career.^[1]

Ehrhardt Heller
Born	(1910-06-02)June 2, 1910 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Died	June 15, 1980(1980-06-15) (aged 70) Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Rangers
Playing career	1929–1956

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.^[1] 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 the Stanley Cup twice, 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 the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Heller at No. 25 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.^[2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1928–29	Kitchener Empires	OHA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1929–30	Springfield Indians	Can-Am		26	6	2	8	32		—	—	—	—	—
1930–31	Springfield Indians	Can-Am		38	16	15	31	85		7	0	2	2	26
1931–32	Springfield Indians	Can-Am		21	7	7	14	30		—	—	—	—	—
1931–32	New York Rangers	NHL		21	2	2	4	9		7	3	1	4	8
1932–33	New York Rangers	NHL		40	5	7	12	31		8	3	0	3	10
1933–34	New York Rangers	NHL		48	2	5	7	29		2	0	0	0	0
1934–35	New York Rangers	NHL		47	3	11	14	31		4	0	1	1	4
1935–36	New York Rangers	NHL		43	2	11	13	40		—	—	—	—	—
1936–37	New York Rangers	NHL		48	5	12	17	42		9	0	0	0	11
1937–38	New York Rangers	NHL		48	2	14	16	68		3	0	1	1	2
1938–39	New York Rangers	NHL		48	0	23	23	42		7	0	1	1	10
1939–40	New York Rangers	NHL		47	5	14	19	26		12	0	3	3	12
1940–41	New York Rangers	NHL		48	2	16	18	42		3	0	1	1	4
1941–42	New York Rangers	NHL		35	6	5	11	22		6	0	0	0	0
1942–43	New York Rangers	NHL		45	4	14	18	14		—	—	—	—	—
1943–44	New York Rangers	NHL		50	8	27	35	29		—	—	—	—	—
1944–45	New York Rangers	NHL		45	7	12	19	26		—	—	—	—	—
1945–46	New York Rangers	NHL		34	2	3	5	14		—	—	—	—	—
1945–46	St. Paul Saints	USHL		16	2	5	7	4		6	0	1	1	4
1946–47	New Haven Ramblers	AHL		64	7	29	36	40		3	0	0	0	6
1947–48	New Haven Ramblers	AHL		67	6	25	31	40		4	1	0	1	6
1948–49	Indianapolis Capitals	AHL		55	6	21	27	24		2	0	0	0	4
1949–50	Indianapolis Capitals	AHL		30	0	1	1	6		4	0	0	0	2
1950–51	Indianapolis Capitals	AHL		48	4	12	16	34		2	0	1	1	2
1951–52	Indianapolis Capitals	AHL		48	4	15	19	40		—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	New Haven Nutmegs	EAHL		21	2	6	8	14		—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	Kitchener Dutchmen	OHA Sr		24	3	10	13	20		—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	Cleveland Barons	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		5	0	0	0	2
1953–54	Marion Barons	IHL		64	4	25	29	70		5	0	2	2	6
1954–55	Valleyfield Braves	QHL		18	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1954–55	Cleveland Barons	AHL		6	0	1	1	2		3	0	1	1	4
1954–55	Chatham Maroons	OHA Sr		7	0	2	2	10		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				647	55	176	231	465		61	6	8	14	61

Awards and accomplishments

• 1932–33, Stanley Cup champion (New York Rangers)
• 1936–37, Most Penalty Minutes (New York Rangers - tie with Joe Cooper)
• 1938–39, Most Assists (New York Rangers)
• 1939–40, Stanley Cup champion (New York Rangers)
• 1940–41, NHL second All-Star team
• 1942–45, Team Captain (New York Rangers)
• 1946–47, AHL second All-Star team
• 1947–48, AHL first All-Star team
• 1949–50, Calder Cup champion (Indianapolis Capitals)
• 1953–54, IHL second All-Star team