Former NHL player and Newfoundland senior hockey star Bill Riley dies at 75
In the 1980s, during the heyday of provincial senior hockey, Bill Riley was a powerhouse.
A former NHL player and trailblazer, he left the pro game to star for the St. John’s Caps, helping the club win the 1987 Herder Memorial Trophy.
The rugged forward was talented, tough and a proven leader.
Riley, from Amherst, N.S., had already carved out an impressive hockey career before arriving in St. John’s in the mid-1980s.
He became the third Black player to play in the NHL when he joined the Washington Capitals in the 1970s. He went on to play 139 games with Washington and Winnipeg and later won a Calder Cup in the AHL.
When his playing career ended, Riley spent several years coaching with stints in the AHL and major junior hockey. He also helped found the Moncton Wildcats.
Bill Riley died earlier today after a battle with cancer. He was 75.