Former Hartford defenseman and Captain Rick Ley speaks to the crowd during a brief ceremony where his number was retired, Sunday, Dec. 26, 1982 in Hartford, Connecticut. Ley retired in June, 1981 because of a knee injury. He was one of the original members of the Whalers when the team was founded in Boston, Mass., in 1972 as one of the teams in the now-defunct World Hockey Association. From left are Ley’s daughter, Kelley; wife Ellen; Ley; Gordie Howe who was the first Whaler to have his number retired. Ley wore the number “2” on his jersey. (AP Photo/Bob Child)