Background
He was born in Cleveland because his father, Bob, was a minor-league hockey player playing for the Cleveland Barons of the AHL.
He was born in Cleveland because his father, Bob, was a minor-league hockey player playing for the Cleveland Barons of the AHL.
Bowling Green State University.
Ellett was drafted 75th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1982 National Hockey League Entry Draft and then played the next two seasons at Bowling Green State University. When Ellett joined the Jets in 1984, he was a solid defenseman right away, scoring 38 points and garnering a +20 plus/minus rating. He became part of a solid Jets nucleus in the mid-to-late 80"s that had the misfortune of playing in the same division as the dominant Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
As a result, Ellett did not garner very much late-round playoff experience with the Jets.
Ellett"s most notable moment with the Jets came in the 1990 Smythe Division semi-final series against the Edmonton Oilers. Despite losing the next 3 games to the Oilers, this goal is considered the most memorable goal in the Jets" National Hockey League history.
In the middle of the 1990-1991 season, Ellett was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Paul Fenton for Editor Olczyk and Mark Osborne. lieutenant was with the Leafs that Ellett transitioned from an offensive defenseman into a solid two-way rearguard.
He was an integral part to the Leafs clubs of 1993 and 1994 that reached the Conference Finals.
Ellett was traded to the New Jersey Devils with Doug Gilmour in the 1996-1997 season, but only played with the club until the end of the season. He then played with the Boston Bruins for two years and then the Saint Louis Blues for a year before retiring. He played his 1000th career game with Boston on March 1, 1998, against the New York Islanders.
He retired in 2000.
In 1989 Ellett was the subject of controversy when he decided to play for Team Canada in the World Championships. Bob Johnson, coach of the American team, complained that Ellett had to play for the United States because of his birthplace and because he attended Team United States of America"s training camp for the 1987 Canada Cup. Ellett was allowed to play for Team Canada because he never actually played for the United States of America internationally.
Ellett was part of one of Wayne Gretzky"s most-remembered goals.
In Game 7 of the 1993 Campbell Conference Finals between the Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings, Gretzky scored a hat trick. He scored his third goal from behind the Netto by banking it off Ellett"s skate and past the Toronto goaltender, Félix Potvin.
Most points by a Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman in a playoff year (18 in 1994)
Most assists by a Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman in a playoff year (15 in 1994).