Bill Plager

William Ronald Plager (July 6, 1945 — January 3, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.

Plager started his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames. He left the NHL after the 1976 season.

Personal life

Before playing in the National Hockey League, Plager played for the Peterborough Petes in Peterborough, Ontario, where he met his wife Donna Hickey. After retiring from the NHL, Plager returned to Peterborough with Donna, sons William Jr., Brett and daughter Dara. Plager is the brother of former NHL players/coaches Bob Plager and Barclay Plager. All three played together for four seasons with the St. Louis Blues.

Plager retired from hockey and became a manager at Quaker Oats Peterborough plant and was head coach of Atom B/C IceKats, girls hockey teams in the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association. He died on January 3, 2016.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1962–63 Peterborough Petes OHA 49 1 5 6 94 6 0 0 0 0 1963–64 Lachine Maroons MMJHL 40 6 34 40 187 — — — — — 1963–64 Notre Dame Monarchs M-Cup — — — — — 4 0 1 1 20 1964–65 Peterborough Petes OHA 27 4 3 7 77 12 0 3 3 31 1965–66 Peterborough Petes OHA 47 1 21 22 190 6 0 1 1 14 1966–67 Houston Apollos CHL 51 4 13 17 130 6 0 1 1 14 1967–68 Minnesota North Stars NHL 32 0 3 3 30 12 0 2 2 8 1967–68 Memphis South Stars CHL 30 0 7 7 51 — — — — — 1968–69 St. Louis Blues NHL 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 4 1968–69 Kansas City Blues CHL 35 1 4 5 66 4 0 1 1 6 1969–70 St. Louis Blues NHL 24 1 4 5 30 3 0 0 0 0 1969–70 Buffalo Bisons AHL 48 2 28 30 91 — — — — — 1970–71 St. Louis Blues NHL 36 0 3 3 45 1 0 0 0 2 1970–71 Kansas City Blues CHL 7 0 0 0 31 — — — — — 1971–72 St. Louis Blues NHL 65 1 11 12 64 11 0 0 0 12 1971–72 Denver Spurs WHL 8 0 5 5 18 — — — — — 1972–73 Atlanta Flames NHL 76 2 11 13 92 — — — — — 1973–74 Minnesota North Stars NHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1973–74 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 67 4 33 37 122 10 1 5 6 8 1974–75 Minnesota North Stars NHL 7 0 0 0 8 — — — — — 1974–75 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 64 6 27 33 101 16 0 4 4 23 1975–76 Minnesota North Stars NHL 20 0 3 3 21 — — — — — 1975–76 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 48 3 14 17 58 3 0 1 1 4 1976–77 Erie Blades NAHL 64 5 25 30 65 — — — — — NHL totals 263 4 35 39 294 31 0 2 2 26

Transactions Traded to Minnesota by Montreal with the rights to Barrie Meissner and Leo Thiffault for Bryan Watson, June 6, 1967. Claimed by NY Rangers from Minnesota in Intra-League Draft, June 12, 1968. Traded to St. Louis by NY Rangers with Camille Henry and Robbie Irons for Don Caley and Wayne Rivers, June 13, 1968. Claimed by Atlanta from St. Louis in Expansion Draft, June 6, 1972. Claimed by Minnesota from Atlanta in Intra-League Draft, June 12, 1973.

Awards and achievements AHL Second All-Star Team (1975)