Ray Getliffe

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = File:Ray Getliffe (1945).jpg

| caption = Ray Getliffe, playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 1945

| image_size = 250px

| played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins

| league = NHL

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 190

| birth_date = {{birth date|1914|4|3|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Galt, Ontario, Canada

| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|15|1914|4|3}}

| death_place = London, Ontario, Canada

| career_start = 1935

| career_end = 1945

}}

Raymond Getliffe (April 3, 1914 – June 15, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Born in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario), he played with the Saint John St. Peters. At the time of his death, he was believed to be the oldest living former Montreal Canadiens player. Getliffe's name is on the Stanley Cup twice, for 1939 with Boston and 1944 with Montreal. On February 6, 1943, while playing for the Canadiens he scored five goals in one game.

After finishing his playing career, Getliffe briefly officiated in the NHL. Retired from hockey, Getliffe and his wife Lorna remained in Montreal until moving to London, Ontario in 1990, where he grew up.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=f0d1a0e9-0a99-42c8-b418-b3c03540101b&page=2 |title=Getliffe going strong at 91 |publisher=Canada.com |date=2006-02-25 |accessdate=2011-03-12}}

Getliffe died in London of liver cancer at age 94. At the time of his death, reports claimed that he was the oldest living NHL alumnus, about four months older than ex-New York Ranger and Chicago Blackhawk Clint Smith.{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20081006002353/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2008/06/16/5896706-cp.html CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Hockey - News: NHLer who nicknamed 'The Rocket' dead at 94]}} These reports, however, overlooked players who had only played a certain number of games, such as Louis Holmes and Al Suomi.{{cite book|last = Meiselman|first = Harvey|title = Harvey's Hockey Address List 2008|publisher = Sports Address Lists|year = 2008|location = Boynton Beach, Florida}}