Jason Williams (ice hockey)

Jason Williams
Williams during his first tenure with the Detroit Red Wings
Born	(1980-08-11) August 11, 1980 (age 43) London, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Detroit Red Wings Porin Ässät Chicago Blackhawks Atlanta Thrashers Columbus Blue Jackets Dallas Stars Pittsburgh Penguins HC Ambrì-Piotta Kölner Haie Ritten Sport Nottingham Panthers Brantford Blast Dundas Real McCoys
National team	Canada
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2000–2017

Jason Williams (born August 11, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger.

Williams has played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He was a member of the 2002 Stanley Cup championship Red Wings team.

He is currently the head coach of the Strathroy Rockets of the GOJHL.

Playing career

Williams picture during Edmonton Oilers training camp in 2014.

Detroit Red Wings

As a youth, he played in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from London, Ontario. ^[1]

Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Red Wings on September 18, 2000. He played the first few seasons with Detroit's minor league affiliates in the American Hockey League, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 2001–02, he played 25 games with the Red Wings and scored his first career NHL goal. Williams would also suit up for the Red Wings in nine playoff games en route to a Stanley Cup championship.

When NHL play was halted due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Williams played overseas in the SM-liiga with Porin Ässät. Returning to the Wings in 2005–06 under new head coach Mike Babcock, Williams broke out with 21 goals and 58 points, frequently playing on a line with Steve Yzerman and Robert Lang. On October 22, 2005, Williams notched his first career hat trick in a 6–0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. ^[2] All three goals came in the first period of that game; it was the first time Red Wings player scored three times in a single period since Darren McCarty's hat trick in the third period of game one against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

Following Williams' breakout season, he re-signed with Detroit on a new two-year deal worth $3.2 million. ^[3] On November 8, 2006, during a game against the Edmonton Oilers, Williams was injured when he was checked from behind the net by Raffi Torres, causing his head to hit the ice. Williams was taken off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Detroit Medical Center. He was released from the hospital on November 9 with facial lacerations and a first-degree concussion. ^[4] The Red Wings put him on the injured reserve list, causing him to miss a minimum of 10 days. According to the Red Wings, he never lost consciousness. ^[5]

Chicago Blackhawks

Later that season, Williams was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks on February 26, 2007, in a three-way trade that also included the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers received a third round draft pick and Lasse Kukkonen from the Blackhawks in exchange for Kyle Calder; in turn, the Blackhawks sent Calder to the Red Wings in exchange for Williams. He scored twice in his first return to Joe Louis Arena as a member of the Blackhawks.

Atlanta Thrashers/Columbus Blue Jackets

After a 36-point season in 43 games with Chicago, Williams became an unrestricted free agent and was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers on July 13, 2008, to a one-year, $2.2 million deal. ^[6] On January 14, 2009, Williams was traded by the Thrashers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Clay Wilson and a sixth round draft pick. ^[7] Williams performed well with Columbus, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists for the remainder of the 2008–09 season as the Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their history. Williams and the Blue Jackets were swept in the first round by Williams' former team, the Detroit Red Wings.

Williams shootout attempt vs Marc-André Fleury, January 2010.

Return to Detroit

On August 6, 2009, Williams returned as a free agent to the Red Wings after signing a one-year contract. ^[8] On November 7, 2009 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Williams suffered a fractured fibula, and missed several weeks with the injury. On January 29, 2010, Williams was activated off of injured reserve from his injury. ^[9] He scored a powerplay goal in his first game back from injury against the Nashville Predators, a 4-2 Red Wings victory.

Remaining professional career

On December 27, 2010, Williams was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers and played for their AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale. On February 11, 2011, he was released from his PTO with the Whale. ^[10] Williams was then signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars on February 12, 2011, for the remainder of the season. ^[11]

On July 26, 2011, he signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. ^[12] Williams was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, for the majority of the 2011–12 season, however was recalled to produce a goal and assist in an eight-game stint with Pittsburgh.

With limited NHL interest in 2012, Williams opted to resume his career in Europe, agreeing to a two-year contract with the Swiss club, HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League A. Over two seasons, with Ambri, Williams became entrenched in a top scoring line role, contributing with 64 points in 79 games.

Jason Williams with his dog, Harley. November 2011.

Williams opted to return to North America following the completion of his contract in Switzerland, to sign a one-year free agent contract with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL on July 25, 2014. ^[13] In the 2014–15 season, Williams provided the Barons with a veteran presence and leadership while showing no loss of his offensive touch with 53 points in 72 games.

On July 16, 2015, Williams made another return to Europe in signing with his first German club, Kölner Haie of the DEL, on a one-year deal. ^[14] He sustained a back injury in pre-season ^[15] and played only nine games during the 2015–16 season.

In late October 2016, he signed a short-term deal with Italian side Ritten Sport. ^[16] Williams was instrumental in helping the team reach the IIHF Continental Cup final four, tallying three goals and three assists in three games. He also scored three goals and assisted on one more in two Alps Hockey League contests for Ritten. ^[17]

In December 2016, Williams moved to the UK to sign for the Nottingham Panthers. ^[18]

Williams has since had spells with Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) sides Brantford Blast and Dundas Real McCoys.

Personal information

Jason attended Regina Mundi High School in London, Ontario, Canada. Jason was married in July 2010 to his longtime girlfriend Julie, whom he met during high school.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Mount Brydges Bulldogs	SOJHL		36	31	28	59	18		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Peterborough Petes	OHL		60	4	8	12	8		10	1	0	1	2
1997–98	Peterborough Petes	OHL		55	8	27	35	31		4	0	1	1	2
1998–99	Peterborough Petes	OHL		68	26	48	74	42		5	1	2	3	2
1999–00	Peterborough Petes	OHL		66	36	37	73	64		5	2	1	3	2
2000–01	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		76	24	45	69	48		1	0	0	0	2
2000–01	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		5	0	3	3	2		2	0	0	0	0
2001–02	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		52	23	27	50	27		3	0	1	1	6
2001–02	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		25	8	2	10	4		9	0	0	0	2
2002–03	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		45	23	22	45	18		15	1	7	8	16
2002–03	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		16	3	3	6	2		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		49	6	7	13	15		3	0	0	0	2
2004–05	Ässät	SM-l		43	26	17	43	52		2	1	1	2	4
2005–06	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	21	37	58	26		6	1	1	2	6
2006–07	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		58	11	15	26	24		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		20	4	2	6	20		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		43	13	23	36	22		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		41	7	11	18	8		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		39	12	17	29	16		4	0	1	1	2
2009–10	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		44	6	9	15	8		3	0	0	0	0
2010–11	Connecticut Whale	AHL		17	4	5	9	10		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Dallas Stars	NHL		27	2	3	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		59	13	29	42	32		12	3	10	13	2
2011–12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		8	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		47	26	20	46	16		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		32	8	10	18	12		2	0	1	1	0
2014–15	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL		72	21	32	53	30		10	0	5	5	6
2015–16	Kölner Haie	DEL		9	0	3	3	8		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Ritten Sport	AlpsHL		2	1	3	4	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Nottingham Panthers	GBR		11	5	9	14	0		2	0	1	1	0
2017–18	Brantford Blast	ACH		10	8	7	15	2		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Dundas Real McCoys	ACH		2	1	4	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Dundas Real McCoys	ACH		4	1	3	4	0		4	1	1	2	0
AHL totals				321	108	160	268	165		41	4	23	27	32
NHL totals				455	94	133	227	157		27	1	2	3	12

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006	Canada	WC	4th		9	2	5	7	2
Senior totals					9	2	5	7	2

Awards and achievements

• 1999–2000 OHL Third All-Star Team
• 1999–2000 OHL Plus/Minus Award
• 2001–02 NHL Stanley Cup champion (Detroit Red Wings)
• Winner of the 2012 Spengler Cup

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
2. "Detroit 6,Columbus 0". Yahoosports. October 22, 2005. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
3. "Red Wings re-sign Williams to two-year contract". ESPN. July 27, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
4. "Concussion lands Red Wings' Williams on IR". ESPN. November 9, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
5. "Injured Red Wing Williams taken of ice on stretcher". ESPN. November 9, 2006. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
6. "Thrashers sign UFA Jason Williams". thrashers.nhl.com. July 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 25, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
7. "Blue Jackets trade for help on the power play". dispatch.com. January 14, 2009. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
8. "Red Wings reunite with Williams". Detroit Red Wings. August 6, 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
9. "Forward Williams returns to Red Wings". Associated Press. January 29, 2010.
10. "Whale release Jason Williams from PTO". NorwalkPlus.com. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
11. "Stars sign Forward Jason Williams". ESPN. February 12, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
12. "Penguins Sign Forward Jason Williams". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
13. "Barons sign Centerman Jason Williams". Oklahoma City Barons. July 25, 2014. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
14. "Jason Williams reinforces Kolner Haie" (in German). Kölner Haie. July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
15. "Jason Williams fällt länger aus - Marcel Ohmann auf gutem Weg - Haimspiel.de". Haimspiel.de (in German). September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
16. "Jason Williams: Ein Stanley-Cup-Sieger für Ritten". www.sportnews.bz. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
17. "Jason Williams kehrt nicht auf den Ritten zurück | THE BOYS ARE HERE!". Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
18. "Panthers add Stanley Cup winner to their squad – British Ice Hockey". Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database