Ron Low
From Dauphin champion to Edmonton and New York head coach.
Ronald Albert Low is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender and coach born on June 21, 1950. He played in the National Hockey League with six teams between 1972 and 1985 before transitioning into coaching. His career highlights include serving as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers from 1995 to 1999 and the New York Rangers from 2000 to 2002. Low grew up in Foxwarren, Manitoba, where he first honed his skills with the Dauphin Kings, leading them to championships before turning professional.
- Role
- Goaltender / Coach
- Affiliation
- NHL (Capitals, Red Wings, Nordiques, Oilers, Devils; Rangers, Senators)
- Era
- 1972 - 2008
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Low's journey began with two seasons with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, where he led the team to the Manitoba championship and Memorial Cup playoffs annually. Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, his NHL debut came later. After a brief stint with Toronto, he was claimed by the Washington Capitals in the 1974 Expansion Draft. On February 16, 1975, Low made history as the first goalie to record a shutout for the Capitals against the Kansas City Scouts. His career saw trades to Detroit, a claim by Quebec in 1979, and a move to Edmonton after just 15 games with the Nordiques. He finished his playing days with the New Jersey Devils at the end of the 1984–85 season.
In Their Own Story
After retiring as a player, Low immediately began coaching, starting with six games for the Nova Scotia Oilers in the American Hockey League before becoming an assistant there. He returned to the minors as head coach of the Nova Scotia (later Cape Breton) Oilers from 1988 to 1989 before rejoining Edmonton as an assistant in 1990. Seven years later, he took the helm as Edmonton's head coach for four seasons. His next stop was Houston Aeros for a season, followed by his tenure with the New York Rangers from 2000 to 2002. During the 2001–2002 season, the team's poor performance sparked regular chants of "Low must go!" at home games. General Manager Glen Sather dismissed him after two seasons where the Rangers went 69-81-9-5, finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division both years and missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year.
Reader's Guide
Post-Rangers, Low remained with New York as a scout until 2004. In the summer of that year, he joined the Ottawa Senators as a scout and goaltender coach. By August 2007, he was promoted to assistant coach for the Senators but was fired on February 27, 2008. On March 17, 2010, Low was mugged in downtown Calgary after meeting former Oiler Dave Hunter; he suffered organ damage requiring surgery at Foothills Hospital. He is recognized with a Turnbull Cup (1969 & 1970), EHL South Rookie of the Year (1971), CHL Second All-Star Team (1974), and CHL First All-Star Team/MVP (1979).
Did You Know?
- Low was the first goaltender to record a shutout for the Washington Capitals on February 16, 1975.
- He won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1990.
- During his time coaching the New York Rangers (2000-2002), fans regularly chanted 'Low must go!' due to the team's dismal performance.
- On March 17, 2010, Low was mugged in downtown Calgary after meeting with fellow former Oiler Dave Hunter, requiring surgery for organ damage.