Bill White (ice hockey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill White |
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White with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1973
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| Born | August 26, 1939 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | May 21, 2017 (aged 77) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Los Angeles Kings Chicago Black Hawks |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| Playing career | 1959–1976 | ||
William Earl White (born August 26, 1939 – died May 21, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. People knew Bill White as one of the best defensive players in the 1970s. He was great at stopping opponents from scoring goals.
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Who Was Bill White?
Bill White was a talented ice hockey player from Canada. He played as a defence player. This means his main job was to protect his team's goal. He was known for being very strong in defence. He played for many years in the NHL.
His Early Hockey Days
Bill White started playing junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros. This was a team in the Ontario Hockey Association. After that, he became a professional player in 1960.
Back then, it was hard to get a spot in the Original Six NHL teams. So, Bill spent seven seasons playing in a minor league. This league was called the American Hockey League (AHL). He mostly played for the Springfield Indians.
While playing for the Indians, Bill White helped players stand up for their rights. He was part of player strikes. These actions helped create the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). This group helps protect hockey players' interests.
Becoming an NHL Star
In 1967, the Los Angeles Kings joined the NHL. They picked Bill White to play for them. He quickly became their best defence player. He even led the team in scoring points for two years.
In 1970, Bill was traded to the powerful Chicago Black Hawks. He played the rest of his career there. He teamed up with another great defence player, Pat Stapleton. They became one of the best defence pairs in hockey.
Even with some small injuries, Bill was amazing. He usually got about 30 assists each season. An assist is when you help a teammate score a goal. He was chosen for the NHL's Second All-Star team three times. This happened in 1972, 1973, and 1974. He also played in the All-Star Game for six years in a row.
Playing for Team Canada in 1972
One of Bill White's most famous moments was in 1972. He was chosen to play for Team Canada. They played in a special series against the Soviet Union. This was called the 1972 Summit Series. It was a very important and exciting eight-game series.
Bill White played in seven of those games. In the final game in Moscow, he even scored a goal for Canada! He also had the best plus/minus score of any Canadian player. This means he was on the ice for more goals scored by his team than by the other team.
After Hockey
Bill White had to stop playing hockey in 1976. He got a neck injury during the playoffs. This injury caused lasting nerve damage.
After retiring as a player, Bill White became a coach. He coached the Chicago Black Hawks for a short time in 1977. Later, he coached his old junior team, the Toronto Marlboros.
Bill White passed away on May 21, 2017. He was 77 years old. He left behind a great legacy as a strong and important defenceman.
