Bill Riley
Encyclopedia
William James "Bill" Riley (born September 20, 1950 in Amherst
, Nova Scotia
) is a retired Canadian
ice hockey
player, and was the third black
player in the National Hockey League
.
Riley was given a tryout with the Washington Capitals
during their inaugural season and actually played in one game, but he spent most of his time in the minors, primarily with the Dayton Gems. It was during this time that he played under future Capitals' coach Tom McVie
. He would eventually be signed as a free agent by the Capitals during the 1976–77 NHL season and would play for the Capitals in parts of the next three seasons.
Riley was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
, but only played in 14 games before he was sent to the minors, where he played until he retired following the 1983–84 season.
Riley was player-coach and captain of the St. John's Caps located in Newfoundland for a number of years during the late 1980s.
After retiring from professional play, Riley moved into coaching. He was the Head Coach, General Manager and Director Of Player Personnel of the Miramichi Timberwolves
of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League
. He also served as Head Coach of the Moncton Wildcats
during the 1996–97 season
, finishing with a 16–52–2.
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Amherst is a Canadian town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, Amherst is strategically situated on the eastern boundary of the Tantramar Marshes 3 kilometres east of the interprovincial border with New...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
) is a retired Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
player, and was the third black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
player in the National Hockey League
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...
.
Riley was given a tryout with 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...
during their inaugural season and actually played in one game, but he spent most of his time in the minors, primarily with the Dayton Gems. It was during this time that he played under future Capitals' coach Tom McVie
Tom McVie
Tom McVie was a coach in the National Hockey League. He coached the Washington Capitals from the 1975–76 season to the middle of the 1978–79 season. He moved to the Winnipeg Jets, then in the World Hockey Association, and coached the team with Bill Sutherland in its first two NHL seasons, 1979–80...
. He would eventually be signed as a free agent by the Capitals during the 1976–77 NHL season and would play for the Capitals in parts of the next three seasons.
Riley was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
1979 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
, but only played in 14 games before he was sent to the minors, where he played until he retired following the 1983–84 season.
Riley was player-coach and captain of the St. John's Caps located in Newfoundland for a number of years during the late 1980s.
After retiring from professional play, Riley moved into coaching. He was the Head Coach, General Manager and Director Of Player Personnel of the Miramichi Timberwolves
Miramichi Timberwolves
The Miramichi Timberwolves are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Miramichi, New Brunswick. They play in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team was founded in 2000 and plays their home games at the Miramichi Civic Centre.- History :...
of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League
Maritime Junior A Hockey League
The Maritime Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of four teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the Roger Meek Division, and six teams from Nova Scotia which make...
. He also served as Head Coach of the Moncton Wildcats
Moncton Wildcats
The Moncton Wildcats are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They play at the Moncton Coliseum in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada....
during the 1996–97 season
1996–97 QMJHL season
The 1996–97 QMJHL season was the 28th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continues explore new markets as the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move north to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The New Faces Cup is renamed the RDS Cup, for its new sponsor, Réseau des sports. Fourteen...
, finishing with a 16–52–2.