Bill Butters (born January 10, 1951) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1978 and then in the National Hockey League from 1978 to 1979. After his playing career Butters became a coach, serving as an assistant coach for several years with the University of Minnesota and then coaching at the NCAA Division III and high school levels.

Bill Butters
Born (1951-01-10) January 10, 1951 (age 73)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Minnesota Fighting Saints
Houston Aeros
Edmonton Oilers
New England Whalers
Minnesota North Stars
NHL draft Undrafted
WHA draft Undrafted
Playing career 1973–1980

Life and career

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Butters was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on January 10, 1951,[1] and played high school hockey at White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He played for the University of Minnesota from 1971–73, coached by Glen Sonmor and Herb Brooks, and he served as team captain in 1972-73. Butters went on to play 217 games in the World Hockey Association for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Houston Aeros, Edmonton Oilers and New England Whalers, followed by 72 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars.

In 1980, after retiring as a player, Butters became involved the Christian Hockey Camps International, run by Hockey Ministries International.[2]

From 2010 to 2012, Butters was an assistant coach with the University of Wisconsin Badgers.[3][4] Butters stepped down from this position in order to return to work with the Ministries.[5]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1966–67 White Bear High School HS-MN
1970–71 University of Minnesota B1G 27 0 1 1 52
1971–72 University of Minnesota B1G 29 1 9 10 100
1972–73 University of Minnesota B1G 33 3 6 9 110
1973–74 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 71 7 18 25 174 10 2 4 6 37
1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 24 2 2 4 58 12 1 0 1 21
1974–75 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 32 5 9 14 192
1975–76 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 59 0 15 15 170
1975–76 Houston Aeros WHA 14 0 4 4 18 17 0 3 3 51
1976–77 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 42 0 7 7 133
1976–77 Edmonton Oilers WHA 7 0 2 2 17
1976–77 New England Whalers WHA 26 1 8 9 65 5 0 1 1 15
1977–78 New England Whalers WHA 45 1 13 14 69
1977–78 Minnesota North Stars NHL 23 1 0 1 30
1978–79 Minnesota North Stars NHL 49 0 4 4 47
1978–79 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 14 1 2 3 31
1979–80 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 73 3 8 11 134
WHA totals 217 4 51 55 530 34 1 4 5 87
NHL totals 72 1 4 5 77

References

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  1. ^ "Bill Butters Stats And News". NHL.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ^ Gerdes, Vicki (2 March 2016). "Former NHL player visits DL church". Detroit Lakes Online. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  3. ^ Johnson, Andy. "Butters Steps Down From UW's Bench". SB Nation. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  4. ^ Myers, Jess (October 2010). "Buttering the Other Side of the Bread: Coach Bill Butters | USA Hockey Magazine". www.usahockeymagazine.com. USA Hockey Magazine. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Butters Steps Down From Wisconsin Staff". College Hockey News. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
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