Billy Harris (ice hockey, born 1935)

William Edward "Hinky" Harris (July 29, 1935[1] – September 20, 2001) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1969.

Billy Harris
Billy Harris in the mid 1960s
Born(1935-07-29)July 29, 1935
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedSeptember 20, 2001(2001-09-20) (aged 66)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb)
PositionCentre
ShotLeft
Played forNHL
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Oakland Seals
Pittsburgh Penguins
AHL
Rochester Americans
Pittsburgh Hornets
Coached forOttawa Nationals
Toronto Toros
Playing career1955–1969
Coaching career1971–1984

Playing career

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Harris began his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1955–56. He helped Toronto win 3 straight Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, and 1964. In total, he played 10 seasons with Toronto before being traded in the off season to the Detroit Red Wings along with Andy Bathgate and Gary Jarrett for Larry Jeffrey, Eddie Joyal, Lowell MacDonald, Marcel Pronovost, and Autry Erickson on May 20, 1965. After playing 24 games for Detroit in 1965–66 he was sent down to the Red Wings AHL affiliate Pittsburgh Hornets. He spent the entire 1966–67 season in the AHL with Pittsburgh leading the team with 34 goals and helping them win the Calder Cup Championship.

The following year the National Hockey League expanded from six teams to twelve and on June 6, 1967 Harris was selected by the Oakland Seals in the expansion draft. During his second season with Oakland he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Bob Dillabough. Harris would retire from professional hockey at the conclusion of the 1968–69 NHL season.

Coaching career

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After finishing his playing career in 1970 with the Canadian national team, Harris became head coach of the Swedish national ice hockey team in 1971–72. He then became the first head coach of the Ottawa Nationals in the WHA's inaugural 1972–73 season and coached Team Canada in the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

Harris went on to become an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers under Glen Sather for two seasons beginning in 1981–82.

He ended his coaching career after serving as a head coach in the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves in 1982–83 and 1983–84.

In later years, Harris and Dave Keon operated one of Canada's biggest hockey schools.

Awards and achievements

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  • 1961–62 – Stanley Cup Champion – Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1962–63 – Stanley Cup Champion – Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1963–64 – Stanley Cup Champion – Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1966-67 - AHL Champion – Pittsburgh Hornets

Transactions

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1950–51Weston DukesB10 Jr. B186142021289174
1950–51Toronto MarlborosOHA20110
1951–52Weston DukesB10 Jr. B
1951–52Toronto MarlborosOHA30110
1952–53Toronto MarlborosOHA56203151472134
1953–54Toronto MarlborosOHA592539642715461020
1954–55Toronto MarlborosOHA47372966261310182811
1954–55Toronto MarlborosM-Cip1156110
1955–56Toronto Maple LeafsNHL7091322851014
1956–57Toronto Maple LeafsNHL2346106
1956–57Rochester AmericansAHL43520251520004
1957–58Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6816284432
1958–59Toronto Maple LeafsNHL70223052291234716
1959–60Toronto Maple LeafsNHL701325382990334
1960–61Toronto Maple LeafsNHL661227393051010
1961–62Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6715102514122132
1962–63Toronto Maple LeafsNHL658243222100110
1963–64Toronto Maple LeafsNHL63612181791124
1964–65Toronto Maple LeafsNHL481670
1964–65Rochester AmericansAHL11410146105121710
1965–66Detroit Red WingsNHL241456
1965–66Pittsburgh HornetsAHL42152237230002
1966–67Pittsburgh HornetsAHL703436702992686
1967–68Oakland SealsNHL621217292
1968–69Oakland SealsNHL190442
1968–69Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL54713208
NHL totals769126219345205628101830

Coaching record

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TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
Ottawa Nationals1972–737835394744th in WHA EastLost in division semi-finals (1-4 vs. NE)
Toronto Toros1973–747841334862nd in WHA EastWon in division semi-finals (4-1 vs. CLE)
Lost in division finals (3-4 vs. CHI)
Toronto Toros1974–754123171(47)2nd in WHA CanadianFired
WHA totals1972-1975197998992078-9 (0.471)

Death

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Harris died as a result of cancer / leukemia, in Toronto, Ontario, on September 20, 2001. He was 66 years old.

References

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