Bill Needham

Bill Needham (January 12, 1932 – January 25, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach.

Bill Needham
Born	(1932-01-12)January 12, 1932 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died	January 25, 2022(2022-01-25) (aged 90)
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	IHL Grand Rapids Rockets Toledo Hornets WHL New Westminster Royals AHL Cleveland Barons
Playing career	1952–1972

Playing career

Needham played for the following minor league teams during his career: Grand Rapids Rockets, Valleyfield Braves, Glace Bay Miners, New Westminster Royals, North Bay Trappers, Toledo Hornets and Cleveland Barons. He holds the franchise record of most games played for the Cleveland Barons, a total of 981, where he spent 15 seasons of his career. In this span, Needham scored 62 goals and 246 assists.

Later life

Needham assumed the role of Coach-Player for the 1971/72 Toledo Hornets, but suited up to play in less than half of their games that year. From 1972-1974 he was the Cleveland Crusaders head coach in the World Hockey Association Goaltender Gerry Cheevers emerged as a star for The Crusaders, after several All-Star years with the NHL Boston Bruins.

Needham died January 25, 2022, at the age of 90.

Coaching record

WHA

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
Cleveland Crusaders	1972-73	78	43	32	3	89	2nd in East	Lost in Division Finals
Cleveland Crusaders	1973-74	78	37	32	9	83	3rd in East	Lost in Semifinals
WHA Total		156	80	64	12

College

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Massachusetts Redmen Independent (1950–1951)
1950–51	Massachusetts	0–7–0
Massachusetts:		0–7–0
Total:		0–7–0

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from The Internet Hockey Database