Bill Huard

Bill Huard
Bill Huard
Born	June 24, 1967 (age 57); Welland, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins; Ottawa Senators; Quebec Nordiques; Dallas Stars; Edmonton Oilers; Los Angeles Kings
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1988–2000

William John Huard (born June 24, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Huard had a professional career of over 600 games, including parts of 7 seasons at the National Hockey League (NHL) level with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.

Playing career

Huard played two junior seasons with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, after making the team as a walk-on player. After completing his junior eligibility, he signed as a free agent with the Carolina Thunderbirds of the ECHL where he won an ECHL Championship and lead the team in playoff points. He then caught the attention of the NHL's New Jersey Devils, who signed Huard to play with their farm club, the Utica Devils of the American Hockey League.

Following that off-season Huard joined a local boxing gym Napper's Boxing Club where Canadian Boxing champ Tom Glesby assisted training him in boxing^{[citation needed]}. Following his third year with the Utica Devils he was named the toughest player in the league by an AHL coaches poll^{[citation needed]}.

Although Huard failed to make the parent New Jersey Devils, he showed enough that Tom McVie (now coach of the Boston Bruins) convinced his organization to sign him. It was during his single season with the Providence Bruins that Huard got his first NHL action. Huard's first NHL game (against the Hartford Whalers) was extremely short. During the first period of play, Huard had to leave the bench after GM Harry Sinden and Mike Milbury recognized a contract mishap with him. Huard was sent back to Providence following the game, only to be recalled a week later for two more games at the NHL level. The following summer Huard signed with Ottawa, and spent the next seven seasons in the NHL, with the Senators, Nordiques, Stars and Oilers. It was in Ottawa that Huard was given the nickname "Babyface" by the local sports media.

Although Huard briefly showed scoring ability at the ECHL, the AHL and the NHL level, his time there was mostly spent as an enforcer, and his penalty minutes consistently outpaced his point production.

Injury's contributed to a decline in Huard's play, in particular, a battered left hand hastened his exit from the NHL. Huard played his last game with the Los Angeles Kings (although he was traded to the expansion Atlanta Thrashers franchise, he only played for their farm club). He finished his professional career in Britain, playing for the London Knights.

After just two games, Huard's wife, who was seven months pregnant, had a medical scare, and returned to Canada with Huard to see their family doctor. Huard had played his last professional game.

Personal life

In Huard's hometown of Welland, the local hockey arena has a tribute to his playing career.

Career statistics

                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86  Peterborough Petes          OHL     7    1    1    2    2  --  --  --  --  --
1986-87  Peterborough Petes          OHL    61   14   11   25   61  12   5   2   7  19
1987-88  Peterborough Petes          OHL    66   28   33   61  132  12   7   8  15  33
1988-89  Flint Spirits               IHL     1    0    0    0    2  --  --  --  --  --
1988-89  Carolina Thunderbirds       ECHL   40   27   21   48  177  10   7   2   9  70
1989-90  Utica Devils                AHL    27    1    7    8   67   5   0   1   1  33
1989-90  Nashville Knights           ECHL   34   24   27   51  212  --  --  --  --  --
1990-91  Utica Devils                AHL    72   11   16   27  359  --  --  --  --  --
1991-92  Utica Devils                AHL    62    9   11   20  233   4   1   1   2   4
1992-93  Providence Bruins           AHL    72   18   19   37  302   6   3   0   3   9
1992-93  Boston Bruins               NHL     2    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  --
1993-94  Ottawa Senators             NHL    63    2    2    4  162  --  --  --  --  --
1994-95  Quebec Nordiques            NHL     7    2    2    4   13   1   0   0   0   0
1994-95  Ottawa Senators             NHL    26    1    1    2   64  --  --  --  --  --
1995-96  Dallas Stars                NHL    51    6    6   12  176  --  --  --  --  --
1995-96  Michigan K-Wings            IHL    12    1    1    2   74  --  --  --  --  --
1996-97  Dallas Stars                NHL    40    5    6   11  105  --  --  --  --  --
1997-98  Edmonton Oilers             NHL    30    0    1    1   72   4   0   0   0   2
1998-99  Edmonton Oilers             NHL     3    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  --
1998-99  Houston Aeros               IHL    38    9    5   14  201  10   0   0   0   8
1999-00  Los Angeles Kings           NHL     1    0    0    0    2  --  --  --  --  --
1999-00  Orlando Solar Bears         IHL    19    4    2    6   85   3   0   0   0  10
1999-00  Lowell Lock Monsters        AHL    13    2    2    4   65  --  --  --  --  --
2000-01  London Knights              BISL    1    1    0    1    4  --  --  --  --  --
2012-13  Drillers Dallas    DPSC C League    1    1    1    2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         NHL Totals                        223   16   18   34  594   5   0   0   0   2

Transactions

October 1, 1989 - Huard signs with New Jersey
December 4, 1992 - Huard signs with Boston
June 30, 1993 - Huard signs with Ottawa
April 7, 1995 - Ottawa trades Huard to Quebec for the rights to Mika Stromberg and a 4th round pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
July 1, 1995 - Quebec transfers Huard to Colorado after franchise relocation
October 2, 1995 - Dallas claims Huard from Colorado in NHL Waiver Draft
July 22, 1997 - Huard signs with Edmonton
January 23, 1999 - Huard signs with Houston Aeros of the IHL
July 19, 1999 - Huard signs with Los Angeles
January 25, 2000 - Los Angeles trades Huard to Atlanta for future considerations

References