Lloyd Ailsby

When I started researching this particular player, I ashamedly admit I had never heard of him or his birthplace. I quickly became intrigued.

Lloyed Ailsby was born on May 11, 1917 in little known Lac Pelletier in Saskatchewan. He would go to a long professional career, from 1936 to 1958 as a vagabond defenseman. He played in New York (EHL) and Philly (AHL), Ottawa (QSHL) and Seattle (WHL), amongst other places, but he was best known for his all star campaigns with the St. Paul Saints of the USHL in the late 1940s.

Despite his long, long tenure on the professional scene, Ailsby only managed to appear in three NHL contests, all with the New York Rangers in 1951. It was Christmas week, and he even had to play on Christmas day. He probably did not mind too much though. After 15 years in the minors, he was happy just to be in the show.

Ailsby would unfailingly return to the minors the next week, playing and also coach parts of the next eight campaigns.