Ronald Albert Low (born June 21, 1950) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender and coach. He played in the National Hockey League with six teams between 1972 and 1985. After retiring he became a coach and was head coach of Edmonton Oilers from 1995 to 1999 and the New York Rangers from 2000 to 2002. Low grew up in Foxwarren, Manitoba.

Playing career

Low played for two years with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) before turning pro, leading the Kings to the Manitoba championship and the Memorial Cup playoffs each year.

Originally selected in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Low only played one season with Toronto before he was left exposed in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft where he was claimed by the Washington Capitals. He spent three seasons with the Capitals and was the first goalie to get a shutout for the team on February 16, 1975, against the Kansas City Scouts.

After being traded to and spending two seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization, he was claimed by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft. Low was traded to the Edmonton Oilers after playing only 15 games with the Nordiques. He was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 1983, where he completed his NHL career at the end of the 1984–85 NHL season.

Coaching career

After playing six games with the Nova Scotia Oilers of the American Hockey League, he became an assistant coach for the team. During the 1987 season, Low was promoted to assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers. In 1988, became the head coach of the Nova Scotia Oilers and would remain in that position until 1989 when the team was renamed the Cape Breton Oilers. In 1990, Low was named an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers. Seven years later he became the head coach of the Oilers, a position he held for four seasons. After coaching the Houston Aeros for a season, he was named the head coach of the New York Rangers; however, his tenure would last for only two seasons as the team's dismal performance led to regular chants of Low must go! at home games as the 2001–2002 season's second half wore on. At the time of his dismissal by general manager Glen Sather, the Rangers under Low had a combined record of 69-81-9-5, finished 4th in the Atlantic Division both years, and failed to qualify for the playoffs either year, marking a fifth consecutive year where the team failed to make the playoffs. After being relieved of his coaching duties with the Rangers, he would remain in the organization as a scout until 2004. During the summer of 2004, he became a scout and goaltender coach for the Ottawa Senators. In August 2007, Low was promoted to the position of assistant coach of the Ottawa Senators. He was fired from this position on February 27, 2008.

He won the Stanley Cup in 1987, and 1990 as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

Personal life

On March 17, 2010, Low was mugged in downtown Calgary. He had just left after meeting with fellow former Oiler Dave Hunter when the attack occurred. Low was able to make it back to his hotel and call an ambulance which brought him to Foothills Hospital where he required surgery for his organs damaged in the attack.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1967–68Dauphin KingsMJHL—————————————————
1967–68Winnipeg JetsWCHL16———9609205.75—————————
1968–69Dauphin KingsMJHL—————————————————
1968–69Dauphin KingsM-Cup—————————12757305504.52—
1969–70Dauphin KingsMJHL33———200111903.57—————————
1969–70Dauphin KingsM-Cup—————————6242932615.32—
1970–71Jacksonville RocketsEHL49———294029315.98—————————
1970–71Tulsa OilersCHL4———1921103.44—————————
1971–72Tulsa OilersCHL4321182242813513.33—8——4741511.89—
1971–72Richmond RobinsAHL110060202.00—————————
1972–73Toronto Maple LeafsNHL4212244233915213.90.881————————
1973–74Tulsa OilersCHL5623238321316913.16—————————
1974–75Washington CapitalsNHL488362258723515.45.855————————
1975–76Washington CapitalsNHL456312228520805.46.854————————
1976–77Washington CapitalsNHL5416275291018803.88.881————————
1977–78Detroit Red WingsNHL329129181310213.37.8864132401704.25.879
1978–79Kansas City Red WingsCHL6333282379524403.86—5142371503.80—
1979–80Quebec NordiquesNHL155728265103.71.884————————
1979–80Syracuse FirebirdsAHL155919057004.64—————————
1979–80Edmonton OilersNHL118216503703.42.8973032121203.40.906
1980–81Edmonton OilersNHL24513312589304.44.856————————
1980–81Wichita WindCHL20201201005.00—————————
1981–82Edmonton OilersNHL291771155410003.86.874————————
1982–83Edmonton OilersNHL30101041005.78.815————————
1982–83Moncton AlpinesAHL61413652213.62.877————————
1982–83New Jersey DevilsNHL112716044104.37.858————————
1983–84New Jersey DevilsNHL448254221116104.37.858————————
1984–85New Jersey DevilsNHL26611413258513.85.864————————
NHL totals382961923420,466146344.29.8697164522903.85.892

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLTOTLPtsDivision rankResult
Edmonton Oilers1994–9513571—115th in PacificMissed Playoffs
Edmonton Oilers1995–968230448—685th in PacificMissed Playoffs
Edmonton Oilers1996–978236379—813rd in PacificLost in Second round (COL)
Edmonton Oilers1997–9882353710—803rd in PacificLost in Second round (DAL)
Edmonton Oilers1998–9982333712—782nd in NorthwestLost in First round (DAL)
New York Rangers2000–0182334351744th in AtlanticMissed Playoffs
New York Rangers2001–0282363844804th in AtlanticMissed Playoffs
NHL totals505208243495

Awards and achievements

See also

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or
  • at
Preceded byDoug PalazzariWinner of the Tommy Ivan Trophy 1978–79Succeeded byDoug Palazzari
Preceded byGeorge BurnettHead coach of the Edmonton Oilers 1995–99Succeeded byKevin Lowe
Preceded byJohn TortorellaHead coach of the New York Rangers 2000–02Succeeded byBryan Trottier