Bill Gadsby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Gadsby |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1970 | |||
Gadsby with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s
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| Born | August 8, 1927 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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| Died | March 10, 2016 (aged 88) Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Black Hawks New York Rangers Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1946–1966 | ||
William Alexander Gadsby (born August 8, 1927 – died March 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a talented defence player who played for three different teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1946 to 1966. These teams were the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings.
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Bill Gadsby's Hockey Journey
Bill Gadsby started his amazing hockey career in Calgary, Canada. He played for several smaller teams, even winning a championship in 1942. Before joining the NHL, he played for the Edmonton Junior Canadians for two years.
In 1946, Gadsby joined the Chicago Black Hawks. He was so respected that he became the team captain twice during his eight years there.
Overcoming Challenges
Gadsby faced a big challenge in 1952 when he got polio, a serious illness. Even though he spent three weeks in the hospital, he bravely fought back. He recovered and continued his hockey career without missing a beat!
This wasn't his first close call. In 1939, when he was just 12 years old, he was on a passenger ship called the SS Athenia with his mother. A German U-boat (a type of submarine) fired a torpedo at the ship, and it sank. Bill and his mother spent several hours in a lifeboat before they were rescued.
A Star on the Ice
Gadsby was known as a top player. He was chosen as a First Team All-Star three times and a Second Team All-Star four times. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the league.
In the 1958–59 season, he set a new record for assists by a defenceman, with 46 assists. An assist is when a player helps another player score a goal.
Chasing the Stanley Cup
Even though Bill Gadsby played for 20 seasons in the NHL, he never won the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy for the NHL. He came very close in 1964 when his team, the Detroit Red Wings, lost in the final series to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a very close series that went to seven games.
When he retired, Gadsby had scored 568 points (goals plus assists). This was the most points ever scored by a defenceman at that time.
Honors and Recognition
Bill Gadsby received many honors for his great career.
- In 1986, he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1970, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is a huge honor for hockey players.
- In 1998, The Hockey News magazine ranked him as number 99 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
- In a 2009 book, Gadsby was ranked as the 63rd best player ever for the New York Rangers.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing, Bill Gadsby remained involved with hockey. He was an "Honored Member" of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association. This group works to raise money for children's charities in the Metro Detroit area.
Bill Gadsby passed away on March 10, 2016, at the age of 88, in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
