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| 1984 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Craig Billington
Selected in
second round
No. 23 overall by New Jersey Devils
Born
September 11, 1966
 | Position:
Goaltender
Height: 5-10 Weight: 150
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Belleville (OHL)
Birthplace:
London,
Ontario (Canada)
Hometown:
London, Ontario |
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 |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | W-L-T |
GAA | SO |
SV% | | 1982-83 |
London | Jr. B |
23 | -- |
3.39 | 0 |
n/a | | 1983-84 |
Belleville | OHL |
44 | 20-19-0 |
4.16 | 1 |
n/a |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Ontario Jr. B Rookie of Year: 1982-83
(London)
Miscellaneous:
Rated in The Hockey News draft preview issue
as the No. 5 goaltender prospect for the 1984 NHL draft. ... Belleville's
first of two fourth-round picks, No. 51 overall, in 1983 OHL priority
selection. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 26, 1985 (Los Angeles at New
Jersey)
Numbers:
33, 31, 1 (New Jersey); 1 (Ottawa); 1 (Boston); 1 (Colo.);
1 (Washington)
Stanley
Cup: Never won. Playing Status: Retired January 6, 2003 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP |
W-L-T | GAA |
SO | SV% |
| 1985-2002 |
N.J., Ottawa, Boston,
Colo., Washington | 332 |
110-149-31 | 3.63 |
9 | .877 |
| | CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | W-L |
GAA |
SO | SV% |
| 1993-2000 |
NJ, BOS, COL, WAS | 8 |
0-2 | 4.23 | 0 |
.853 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1993 (New Jersey)
New Jersey Unsung Hero (Media Vote): 1992-93
New Jersey Good Guy Award (Media Vote): 1992-93
NHL Losses Leader: 1993-94 (Ottawa) (41 losses)
NHL Goals-Allowed Leader: 1993-94 (Ottawa) (254 goals)
Coaching Career: Named Colorado goaltending consultant on Jan. 6,
2003, had title upgraded to goaltending coach during 2003-04 season, and
remained in that position through 2004-05 season.
Management Career: Named Colo. director of player development prior
to 2003-04 season and remained in position through 2006-07 season.
Broadcasting Career: Was New Jersey radio color commentator during
several games when he did not dress as a rookie in 1985-86.
Miscellaneous:
Won his first NHL start (and first NHL game) for New Jersey, making 23 saves
in a 5-2 win over Los Angeles. ... Won his first three NHL starts. ...
Suffered 18-stitch gash in left temple after being hit by Dave Christian's
slap shot during New Jersey's Jan. 18, 1987, game vs. Washington. ... Wore
No. 30 in New Jersey's 1989 training camp. ... Named New Jersey Fan Club
Player of Month for December 1991. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with
hamstring injury, suffered during New Jersey's Feb. 15, 1992, game vs.
Hartford. He did not return to action until New Jersey's Feb. 20, 1992, game
at Chicago. ... Missed part of 1991-92 season with damaged cartilage in
right knee, an injury suffered during New Jersey's March 11, 1992, game at
Edmonton. He did not return to action until New Jersey's March 26, 1992,
game vs. Boston. ... Missed remainder of 1991-92 season and entire 1992
playoffs with re-aggravation of right knee injury, suffered during first
period of New Jersey's March 29, 1992, game at Philadelphia. The injury
required season-ending arthroscopic surgery on April 13, 1992. ... Named New
Jersey Fan Club Player of Month for November 1992. ... Missed part of
1992-93 season with sore throat, an illness contracted in March 1993. ...
Became first goaltender in Ottawa history to win a regular-season overtime
game when he stopped 40 shots in a 5-4 victory at Dallas on Oct. 30, 1993.
... Missed part of 1995 season with stretched ligaments in left knee, an
injury suffered during Ottawa's Jan. 27, 1995, game at Pittsburgh. He did
not return to action until Ottawa's March 10, 1995, game at Washington. He
stopped 32 shots in that game to give Ottawa a 2-2 tie. ... Won his first
game in a Boston uniform, beating Buffalo 6-5 on April 9, 1995. ... Had
contract bought out by Boston on June 28, 1996, making him an unrestricted
free agent. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida on Sept. 3, 1996, but never played for
parent team. ... Left unprotected by Florida for 1996 NHL Waiver Draft. He
was claimed by Colorado on Sept. 30, 1996. ... Missed part of 1996-97 season
with sprained ligament in left knee, an injury suffered when he collided
with Stephane Yelle during Colorado's practice on Nov. 19, 1996. He did not
return until Colorado's Dec. 11, 1996, game at Vancouver. ... Missed part of
2000-01 season with bruised hand, an injury suffered during Washington's
practice on March 2, 2001. He did not return to action until Washington's
March 15, 2001, game vs. Carolina. ... Demoted by Washington to Portland (AHL)
after clearing waivers on Dec. 16, 2002. Rather than return to the minor
leagues, he opted to accept a position as Colorado's goaltending consultant. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Belleville (OHL); Maine (AHL);
Utica (AHL); Team Canada
World Championships: 1991 (silver
medal)
World Jr. Championships: 1985
(gold medal), 1986 (silver medal)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
World Junior Championships Best Goaltender: 1985
OHL Bobby Smith Trophy (Scholastic Player of Year): 1984-85
(Belleville)
Canada World Jr. Championships MVP: 1985
OHL All-Star First
Team: 1984-85 (Belleville)
Utica MVP: 1987-88 (co-winner)
Utica Three-Stars Leader:
1987-88
AHL Goalie Games-Played Leader: 1987-88 (Utica) (59 games)
AHL
Minutes Leader: 1987-88 (Utica) (3,404 minutes)
AHL Goals-Allowed
Leader: 1987-88 (Utica) (208 goals)
OHL Playoffs Goalie Games-Played Leader: 1986 (Belle.) (20, tie)
OHL Playoffs Shutouts Leader: 1985 (Belleville) (1 shutout, tie)
OHL Playoffs Goals-Allowed Leader: 1986 (Belleville) (68 goals)
Miscellaneous: Suffered from mononucleosis during the summer of 1984.
The illness was diagnosed in July 1984. ... Named AHL Player of Week for the
week ending Feb. 28, 1988. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with 30-stitch
cut in forehead above eye, an injury suffered during Utica's Feb. 14, 1988,
AHL game at Newmarket. ... Named AHL Player of Week for the week ending Jan.
1, 1989. ... Ran hockey schools for goaltenders (Billington Goalie School) in London, Ontario, Gravenhurst, Ontario, and Southampton, Ontario, during off-seasons of his
playing days. He began coaching goalies in London at the age of 15 and
opened the goaltenders' school with help from his father, Bill Billington.
... Continued operating goalie school after retirement. The school, with an official web site at
www.billingtongoalieschool.com, finally closed in August 2004 after 23
seasons in operation because Billington needed to focus on his NHL coaching
duties.
Personal: Full name is Craig Richard Billington. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE: New Jersey traded Billington, Troy
Mallette and 1993 fourth-round pick (Cosmo Dupaul) to Ottawa for Peter
Sidorkiewicz and future considerations on June 20, 1993. The deal was
completed six days later when New Jersey sent Mike Peluso to Ottawa on June
26, 1993. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '84 | | Total Selected: |
250 | | Forwards: |
142 | | Defense: |
88 | | Goaltenders: |
20 | | Major Junior: |
110 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
16/9 | | College Players: |
23 | | High School: |
47 | | Midget: |
4 | | U.S. Junior B: |
1 |
| Canadian: |
145 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
2 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
63 |
| European: |
41 |
| Reached NHL: |
102 |
| Stanley Cup: |
20 | | Hall of Fame: |
1 |
| All-Star Game: |
18 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
7 |
| Olympians: |
31 |
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