Hockey

Rick Ley was fired as coach of the Hartford Whalers because of what were described as philosophical differences with team owner Richard Gordon.

Ley’s firing came six weeks after the Whalers were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in six games in the NHL playoffs--the fifth consecutive season they have lost in the first round.

Hartford posted a 69-71-20 record in two seasons under Ley--the best winning percentage of the Whalers’ six coaches since the team joined the NHL from the World Hockey Assn. in 1979.