Bill Houlder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Houlder |
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| Born | March 11, 1967 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Washington Capitals Buffalo Sabres Mighty Ducks of Anaheim St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning San Jose Sharks Nashville Predators |
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| NHL Draft | 82nd overall, 1985 Washington Capitals |
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| Playing career | 1987–2003 | ||
William K. Houlder (born March 11, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. During his time in the NHL, Houlder played in 846 games. He scored 59 goals and made 191 assists for his teams.
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William Houlder's Hockey Journey
Starting in the OHL
William Houlder began his hockey career in junior leagues. He was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. This draft is where NHL teams pick young players to join their clubs. Houlder was the 82nd player picked overall in that draft year.
Before joining the NHL, Houlder played three seasons. He played for the North Bay Centennials in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The OHL is a major junior ice hockey league in Canada.
Moving to the NHL
Houlder joined the Capitals during the 1987–88 season. For three seasons, he played for both Washington and their minor league team. This team was the Baltimore Skipjacks in the American Hockey League (AHL). Players often move between the NHL and AHL as they develop.
Before the 1990–91 season, Houlder was traded. He moved to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for another player, Shawn Anderson.
Playing for Many Teams
Houlder stayed with the Sabres for a few years. Then, he was chosen by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. This draft allowed new teams to pick players from other teams.
After Anaheim, Houlder played for several different teams. He played one season for Anaheim. Then he moved on to the St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Jose Sharks. He even played for the Lightning again later in his career. His final team was the Nashville Predators.
Retirement from Hockey
William Houlder retired from professional hockey after the 2002–03 season. He finished his career as a Predator. In total, he played in 846 NHL games. He scored 59 goals and had 191 assists, showing his skill as a defenceman.
