William "Wild Bill" Ezinicki (March 11, 1924 – October 11, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1944–1950), the Boston Bruins (1950–1952), and the New York Rangers (1954–1955) of the NHL. After his hockey career ended he became one of the leading tournament golf professionals in New England.
Playing career Ezinicki was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was best known as a gritty hard-hitting player. He won the Stanley Cup three times with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
Later life Ezinicki became a professional golfer after retiring from hockey. He was head professional at The International in Bolton, Massachusetts. He won several tournaments in the New England region including four state opens in 1960. He was elected to the New England section of the PGA Hall of Fame in 1997.
Ezinicki, a long-time resident of Bolton, Massachusetts, died at the age of 88 on October 11, 2012.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1941–42 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 2 3 0 3 0 — — — — — 1942–43 Oshawa Generals OHA 16 21 10 31 21 10 13 10 23 26 1942–43 Oshawa Generals M-Cup — — — — — 11 17 6 23 33 1943–44 Oshawa Generals OHA 25 38 25 63 33 11 13 3 16 49 1943–44 Oshawa Generals M-Cup — — — — — 10 12 11 23 34 1944–45 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 8 1 4 5 17 — — — — — 1944–45 Toronto Army Shamrocks TIHL 1 1 2 3 10 — — — — — 1945–46 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 24 4 8 12 29 — — — — — 1945–46 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 27 9 12 21 23 — — — — — 1946–47 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 17 20 37 93 11 0 2 2 30 1947–48 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 60 11 20 31 97 9 3 1 4 6 1948–49 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 52 13 15 28 145 9 1 4 5 20 1949–50 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 67 10 12 22 144 5 0 0 0 13 1950–51 Boston Bruins NHL 53 16 19 35 119 6 1 1 2 18 1950–51 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 13 6 3 9 24 — — — — — 1951–52 Boston Bruins NHL 28 5 5 10 47 — — — — — 1951–52 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 16 4 9 13 53 11 3 1 4 67 1952–53 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 41 15 13 28 115 7 0 3 3 8 1954–55 Ottawa Senators QHL 18 5 6 11 39 — — — — — 1954–55 Vancouver Canucks WHL 15 5 2 7 50 — — — — — 1954–55 New York Rangers NHL 16 2 2 4 22 — — — — — 1956–57 Sudbury Wolves NOHA 19 5 4 9 32 12 1 9 10 29 NHL totals 368 79 105 184 713 40 5 8 13 87
Achievements and awards Memorial Cup Championship (1944) Stanley Cup Championships (1947, 1948, & 1949) Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
Golf tournament wins this list may be incomplete 1956 New England PGA Championship 1958 New England PGA Championship, Rhode Island Open, New Hampshire Open 1959 Rhode Island Open 1960 Massachusetts Open, Rhode Island Open, New Hampshire Open, Maine Open 1964 Massachusetts Open 1965 Maritime Open 1969 Newfoundland Open
References
External links
Bill Ezinicki's biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame Bill Ezinicki’s biography at Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Profile at New England section PGA Hall of Fame