1
He was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
15 Interesting Facts About William Dea
A former NHL center and minor league standout, he played for several teams and later became an NHL coach and scout, earning induction into the AHL Hall of Fame.
Position
Centre
Jersey
#9
Status
Retired
Teams
10
Facts
15
2
His professional playing career spanned from the 1952-53 season to the 1971-72 season.
3
He played 397 career regular season games in the National Hockey League.
4
He served as a head coach for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1981-82 NHL season.
5
He was known by the nickname "Hard Rock" due to his punishing style of play.
6
He was inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame in 2017.
7
He is currently a scout for the Florida Panthers.
8
His NHL playing career included stints with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
9
He finished his NHL playing career with a total of 67 goals and 54 assists.
10
He was involved in a trade from the New York Rangers to the Detroit Red Wings in 1955.
11
He played nine consecutive seasons exclusively in the American Hockey League before returning to the NHL.
12
He recorded 248 goals and 249 assists for 497 points in 720 AHL regular season games.
13
He spent the majority of his American Hockey League career playing for the Buffalo Bisons.
14
He is the uncle of former NHL defenseman James Wisniewski.
15
His coaching record as head coach for the Detroit Red Wings was 3 wins, 8 losses, and 0 ties in 11 games.
About William Dea
A Canadian former professional ice hockey centre, he played in the NHL from 1953 to 1971 for several teams, including the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. After a distinguished minor league career, he later served as a head coach for the Detroit Red Wings and is currently a scout for the Florida Panthers. He was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2017.
Career Achievements & Milestones
✓
AHL Hall of Fame
2017
✓
Minor League Standout
✓
NHL Head Coach (Detroit Red Wings)
1981-82
✓
Current Scout for Florida Panthers
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about William Dea.
Player Info
Country: Canada
Position: Centre
Jersey #: 9
Status: Retired
Age: 93 years old
Physical Stats
Height: 5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg)
Born: Edmonton, Alberta
Career Stats
Seasons: 20
Goals: 67
Assists: 54
Points: 121
Teams: 10
Teams & Career
New York Rangers Vancouver Canucks Edmonton Flyers Detroit Red Wings Chicago Black Hawks Buffalo Bisons Pittsburgh Penguins Baltimore Clippers Fort Worth Wings Tidewater Wings
William Dea played for 10 different teams during his 20 seasons career.