Terry Ball

Terrance James Ball (born November 29, 1944) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Ball played in the National Hockey League, the World Hockey Association, the Finnish SM-Liiga, and several minor leagues in a career that spanned from 1964 until 1979.

Early life Ball was born in Selkirk, Manitoba. He played junior with the Winnipeg Rangers and Brandon Wheat Kings, and Kitchener Rangers.

Career In 1963–64, Ball played eight games with the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League but finished the season in junior. He played one further season in junior, with Kitchener and signed underage with the New York Rangers.

In 1964–65, Ball moved on to minor professional leagues, with the Minnesota Rangers. Ball remained in the New York Rangers farm system until 1967 when he was claimed in the expansion draft by Philadelphia. He played one game for the Flyers but spent the rest of the season with their Quebec Aces affiliate. Ball played full-time in the NHL in 1969–70 with the Flyers, before being traded in the off-season to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ball did not play in the NHL for the Penguins and was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1971. Ball was a European scout for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1970s.

Ball was chosen by the World Hockey Association's Minnesota Fighting Saints in the 1972 general draft, and he signed with them. Ball played three seasons with Minnesota before being claimed by the Cleveland Crusaders in 1975. Ball played one season with Cleveland before being traded to the Cincinnati Stingers. Ball was picked up by the Birmingham Bulls in 1976, and he split the season between the Bulls and the minors.

In 1977, Ball signed with HIFK Helsinki, where he played two further seasons of hockey before ending his career.

Ball was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1961–62 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 39 2 2 4 65 3 0 1 1 5 1962–63 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 39 8 23 31 104 — — — — — 1962–63 Brandon Wheat Kings MJHL — — — — — 5 0 0 0 12 1962–63 Brandon Wheat Kings M-Cup — — — — — 5 0 0 0 12 1963–64 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 29 6 16 22 110 4 0 2 2 11 1963–64 Vancouver Canucks WHL 8 0 2 2 4 — — — — — 1963–64 Winnipeg Maroons MHL — — — — — 3 1 0 1 0 1964–65 Kitchener Rangers OHA 55 6 47 53 !53 — — — — — 1964–65 St. Paul Rangers CHL — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0 1965–66 Minnesota Rangers CHL 68 0 10 10 98 7 1 0 1 17 1966–67 Omaha Knights CHL 70 5 15 20 78 5 1 0 1 2 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1967–68 Quebec Aces AHL 72 3 39 42 99 15 1 7 8 22 1968–69 Quebec Aces AHL 74 14 45 59 72 15 8 8 16 8 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 61 7 18 25 20 — — — — — 1969–70 Quebec Aces AHL 10 3 5 8 8 — — — — — 1970–71 Amarillo Wranglers CHL 41 5 30 35 24 — — — — — 1970–71 Buffalo Sabres NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1970–71 Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL 22 2 12 14 20 — — — — — 1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 10 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 1971–72 Cincinnati Swords AHL 68 17 39 56 62 10 3 8 11 2 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 76 6 34 40 66 5 1 2 3 4 1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 71 8 28 36 34 11 1 2 3 6 1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 76 8 37 45 36 12 3 4 7 4 1975–76 Cleveland Crusaders WHA 23 2 15 17 18 — — — — — 1975–76 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 36 3 14 17 12 — — — — — 1976–77 Birmingham Bulls WHA 23 1 6 7 8 — — — — — 1976–77 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 15 0 4 4 4 — — — — — 1977–78 HIFK FIN 33 1 4 5 44 — — — — — 1978–79 HIFK FIN 6 0 2 2 4 — — — — — WHA totals 305 28 134 162 174 28 5 8 13 14 NHL totals 74 7 19 26 26 — — — — —

Awards and achievements MJHL All-Star Team (1964) Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (2011)