Joe Ironstone

Joseph Kelly Ironstone (June 28, 1898 – December 12, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Ironstone was a goaltender who played professionally from 1921 until 1936. He is recorded as playing two games in the National Hockey League (NHL), and one season as a back-up, but played mostly in the minor professional leagues during his career. Ironstone was the second Jew to play in the NHL.[1]

Joe Ironstone
Born (1898-06-28)June 28, 1898
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Died December 12, 1972(1972-12-12) (aged 74)
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for New York Americans
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1921–1936

Playing career

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Ironstone was Jewish.[2] He first played senior hockey in 1921 with the Sudbury Wolves of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. He played three seasons with the Wolves before joining the Ottawa Senators for the 1924–25 season. Ironstone was the back-up goaltender for the season, and did not see game action. In 1925–26, Ironstone played for the new New York Americans expansion team of the NHL, but was mostly the backup. He played in one game and allowed 3 goals in 40 minutes, but did not get the decision, becoming the second Jewish player to play in the NHL, after Sam Rothschild; it was his only game of the season.[2][3] I He joined the Niagara Falls Cataracts Canadian Professional Hockey League (Can-Pro) minor league team for the 1926–27 season.

The following season, Ironstone was traded to the Toronto Ravinas, where he was called up to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. He played one game, a 0–0 tie that went to 10 minutes of overtime.[2] Ironstone asked for double the contract rate for the game, an offer which was accepted by the Leafs' owner Conn Smythe. However, Smythe informed Ironstone that would be the last game he would ever play in the NHL, which ultimately was the case.[1]

He returned to the Can-Pro league in 1928–29, and played for numerous teams until 1931, when he retired from hockey temporarily. He returned to hockey when he moved back to Sudbury in 1933, playing for the Sudbury Legionnaires, Falconbridge Falcons, and finally, the Sudbury Wolves, returning to the team he started professionally with.

Personal life

After leaving ice hockey, Ironstone returned to the family business, a men's wear store started by his father Hyman. He was an avid curler and an original member of the Sudbury Granite Club. He died on December 12, 1972, in Sudbury at the age of 74.[4]

In media

Ironstone was the subject of a radio play written by Paul Davies in 1996.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Ontario Jewish Communities: Sudbury - Sports". Ontario Jewish Archives. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  2. The Big Book of Hockey for Kids - Eric Zweig - Google Books
  3. Ironstone, Joe "Kelly" : Jews In Sports @ Virtual Museum
  4. "Joe Ironstone Biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com
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