Morgan Rielly shares story behind why the spelling of his last name is incorrect

Published March 17, 2023 at 8:55
BY RYAN SMITHERAM

Wednesday night, Morgan Rielly scored his third goal of the season and first in 13 games. It has been a bit of a down year for Rielly who has just 3 goals and 33 points this season while also missing 6 weeks with a knee injury. He is finally starting to produce offensively for the Leafs as he has 12 points in his last 15 games.

Yesterday at practice, after the Leafs prepared for their annual St. Patrick's Day game tonight against Carolina, Rielly was asked about the "wrong" spelling of his Irish last name. In response, Rielly shared the story of what happened saying his "great grandpa emirgrated and changed it because 'i' before 'e' except after 'c'. He was trying to fit in here."

Of course, that wasn't the real story. Rielly revealed that his father once got drunk and revealed to him the real reason for the misspelling of their last name. The real story is a lot less interesting.. "Then my Dad was drinking one day and told me immigration just messed it [the spelling] up."

Unfortunately, for Leaf fans and reporters, autocorrect isn't sure what to do anymore now that the Leafs also have Ryan O'Reilly whose last name carries the more traditional spelling.


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