Fred Williams (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Frederick Richard Williams (born July 1, 1956 in Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
) is a retired ice hockey
centre
. He was drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings
in the 1976 NHL draft
. Williams played in 44 games at the NHL
level. He is the older brother of former NHL player Gord Williams
.
as a centre for the Saskatoon Blades
in the 1971–72 season. He started slowly in his first two seasons with only 41 points in his first 121 games, but then he turned it up. The following seasons would see Williams scoring 36, 70, and 118 points including two trips to the playoffs, helping the Blades to the finals both times with 61 total playoff points. He was 6th in the league in assists with 87 during the 1975–76 season. This attracted the attention of the Detroit Red Wings, who decided to draft Williams with their first round pick in the 1976 NHL draft
.
of the American Hockey League
but was called up the NHL on October 7, 1976. Expectations were high as Williams scored a goal in his debut game against the Washington Capitals
. However, Williams went on to score only six points in the remaining 43 games and was sent down to the Wings minor leagues for the following season
. He continued to flounder while playing for the Kansas City Red Wings
of the Central Hockey League, even trying to play as an defenceman
, but was released at the end of the season. Williams decided to retire, but was quickly pulled out of retirement by an offer from the Philadelphia Firebirds of the AHL on September 15, 1979. He played in 35 games for the Firebirds before being traded to the Maine Mariners
. He played is final three seasons for the Mariners scoring 51, 55, and 32 points respectively. Williams retired
after the 1981–82 season
.
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
) is a retired ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
. He was drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the 1976 NHL draft
1976 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec on June 1, 1976. It is notable as featuring one of the weakest first rounds in draft history, as only two players played more than 450 career NHL games. In 2002, Federko was elected into the Hockey Hall-of-Fame after...
. Williams played in 44 games at the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
level. He is the older brother of former NHL player Gord Williams
Gord Williams
Gordon James Williams is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played 2 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is the younger brother of Fred Williams.-External links:...
.
Junior hockey
Williams started out in the Western Canada Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
as a centre for the Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:...
in the 1971–72 season. He started slowly in his first two seasons with only 41 points in his first 121 games, but then he turned it up. The following seasons would see Williams scoring 36, 70, and 118 points including two trips to the playoffs, helping the Blades to the finals both times with 61 total playoff points. He was 6th in the league in assists with 87 during the 1975–76 season. This attracted the attention of the Detroit Red Wings, who decided to draft Williams with their first round pick in the 1976 NHL draft
1976 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec on June 1, 1976. It is notable as featuring one of the weakest first rounds in draft history, as only two players played more than 450 career NHL games. In 2002, Federko was elected into the Hockey Hall-of-Fame after...
.
Moving up, then down
Williams started the 1976–77 season on the Rhode Island RedsProvidence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
but was called up the NHL on October 7, 1976. Expectations were high as Williams scored a goal in his debut game against the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. However, Williams went on to score only six points in the remaining 43 games and was sent down to the Wings minor leagues for the following season
1977–78 AHL season
The 1977–78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the "International-American Hockey League", the Rhode Island Reds folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams...
. He continued to flounder while playing for the Kansas City Red Wings
Kansas City Red Wings
The Kansas City Red Wings were a professional hockey team that operated in the Central Hockey League for two season, 1977–78 and 1978-79. They were the top farm team of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.-1977-78 season:...
of the Central Hockey League, even trying to play as an defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, but was released at the end of the season. Williams decided to retire, but was quickly pulled out of retirement by an offer from the Philadelphia Firebirds of the AHL on September 15, 1979. He played in 35 games for the Firebirds before being traded to the Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners
The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
. He played is final three seasons for the Mariners scoring 51, 55, and 32 points respectively. Williams retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
after the 1981–82 season
1981–82 AHL season
The 1981–82 AHL season was the 46th season of the American Hockey League. Eleven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The New Brunswick Hawks finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...
.