THIRD all-time in National Hockey League games played among defencemen from Thunder Bay with 846, Bill Houlder had a solid run in the NHL that ran from 1987-2003.
Now an assistant coach with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL, the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame honouree offers some input in this Net Shots Q&A.
NET SHOTS: You played well over 800 games in the NHL. Do any one or two stand out?
BILL HOULDER: My first game was against Edmonton. I got recalled to Washington and the Oilers were in town. I was in awe sitting on the bench watching how good these guys were. It’s about middle of the first period and I haven’t gotten on yet, and to be honest that was okay. Not because I was scared to go on the ice, but because I had the best seat in the house to watch these guys play.
Around the 10-minute mark, the late Brian Murray, calls my name to go out.
It’s a 4-on-4 with the draw in our end. On the ice for Edmonton is Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Kevin Lowe. I look back at Brian like he is making a mistake and waves me out on the ice.
I’m in front of the net next to Kurri watching Gretzky take the face off – I am completely in awe. Thankfully we win the draw and my partner picks up the puck as I swing in the corner, he hits me with a pass, I skate to the redline and dump it in. I immediately go to the bench and stand in front of the door. The defencemen are looking at me because no one is ready to substitute, because my shift was so short and the coach has not called the next pair up. Someone ends up jumping on and I get off. They didn’t track time on the ice then but I would suggest my first shift in the NHL was between five and seven seconds. We won 4-2.
I remember a reporter asking me what it was like to have my first NHL shift against Wayne Gretzky. I responded with something like: “I didn’t know whether to check him or ask him for his autograph.”
Another that stands out was a playoff game when I was playing in San Jose against Dallas.
It was at home and was scoreless going to overtime.
I was probably around 30 then and I remember thinking how awesome this was, 0-0 going into OT, in the playoffs.
My D partner Andrei Zyuzin scored the winning goal, the building erupted and I had never heard and still haven’t heard a building so loud. That was some atmosphere.
NS: What was your favourite NHL venue to play in?
BH: I was in the era when all of the new rinks were being built. I completely understand the need to have the new arenas, with all the amenities, the luxury suites and the need to maximize revenue. However, I think the fan misses out on the atmosphere and character of some of the older rinks.
I had success in St. Louis, so I enjoyed playing there, but three that stand out the most is the old Chicago Stadium, the ‘Aud’ in Buffalo and Boston Garden. They all had smaller ice surfaces, so you could expect a physical game when you went there.
All those rinks had fans that seemed to sit right on top of you and the boards were almost elastic. You could get hit and it would sound loud, and the boards would ripple around but the boards had so much give to them, that it really wouldn’t hurt.
In Buffalo the back-up goalie couldn’t sit on the bench because there was not enough room. In Boston you always had to shake your equipment before you put it on because something may have crawled in there. In Chicago you came up from downstairs and walked onto the ice surface. It was like a scene out of Gladiator. Then the national anthem, with the organ and the crowd cheering through it so you couldn’t hear. It was really tough to beat that atmosphere.
NS: Any thoughts on the NHL playoffs currently going on in Edmonton and Toronto?
BH: This may sound corny, but I hope everyone stays safe and it continues without a hitch. They seem to be taking all the precautions.
For the hockey fan, what an event. A sprint to the finish for the teams. It started tentative then instincts kicked in for the players. It’s a great distraction from what is going on in the world.
On the human side, I’m sure it’s tough on most in the bubble – specifically those with families.
As a young person I would have done anything to play in the NHL. It was a dream, and I wanted to fulfill it.
As I have grown older and now have a family, I understand that there are some things that are more important than playing in the NHL.
Selfishly I will be hoping that if everything continues to go well then it may lead to us starting in the OHL sooner rather than later.
Next week Part II with Bill Houlder.