Career Vitals

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: N.Y. Rangers, Los Angeles
Years: 1972-1979. Playoffs: 1974-1979

Career Highlights

Played three regular-season games for 1971-72 New York team that went to Stanley Cup Finals. He practiced with the team during the playoffs, but did not appear in any postseason games. ... Won CHL Rookie of Year Award with Omaha in 1971-72. ... Named to CHL All-Star Second Team with Omaha in 1971-72. ... Scored the first hat trick in Los Angeles Kings playoff history -- a natural hat trick -- in the third period of Game 4 of Kings' first-round playoff series vs. Chicago on April 14, 1974. He scored his first goal at 6:29 of the third to stretch the Los Angeles lead to 3-1. He then made it 4-1 at 10:27 of the third, and closed out the scoring at 12:47 of the third. The three goals were scored in a span of only 6:18. He also tied the NHL record (since broken) for most goals in one period of a playoff game and set the Los Angeles record (still stands, since tied) for goals in one period of a playoff game. ... Led Los Angeles with three playoff goals in 1974. ... Tied for Los Angeles playoff points lead with four in 1974. ... Won Los Angeles Outstanding Rookie Award for 1973-74. ... Set Los Angeles single-season records (since broken) for power-play goals (15) and points by a left wing (74) in 1976-77. ... Tied Los Angeles single-season record (since broken) for assists by a left wing with 39 in 1976-77. ... Was NHL's second-highest scoring left wing in 1976-77, trailing only Steve Shutt. ... Played 11 games for 1979-80 Salt Lake team that went on to win CHL regular-season title and Adams Cup, but was not with team during playoffs. ... Inducted into Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Transaction History

Nov. 30, 1973 -- Traded by N.Y. Rangers with Mike Murphy and Sheldon Kannegiesser to Los Angeles in exchange for Gilles Marotte and Real Lemieux. Aug. 16, 1979 -- Traded by Los Angeles to N.Y. Islanders in exchange for Barry Gibbs and then immediately sent to St. Louis to complete a June 9, 1979, three-team deal in which St. Louis traded Gibbs and Terry Richardson to N.Y. Islanders in exchange for future considerations (Richie Hansen, Ralph Klassen, and player to be named from the Los Angeles roster).
 

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Thomas Charles Williams
Nickname: "Vanderbilt"
Also Known as: Tommy Williams

Other Post-Draft Teams: Omaha (CHL); Providence (AHL); Springfield (AHL); Salt Lake (CHL)

Education: Attended Herman Collegiate for Grades 9 and 10, Goderich High School for Grade 11, and Hamilton Central High School for Grades 12 & 13.

Career Beyond Hockey: Returned home to Windsor, Ontario, after his retirement and became involved with numerous charitable causes as one of the founders of Windsor's Circle of Seven, an organization that has raised millions of dollars for local charities. The group, founded in 2000, also included former NHL star John Ferguson.

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1972-73 season with broken ribs, suffered while playing for Providence (AHL) in November 1972. ... Missed part of 1973-74 season with broken toe, suffered in Los Angeles' Feb. 24, 1974, game at Toronto. He did not return until Los Angeles' March 23, 1974, game vs. Vancouver. ... Missed part of 1975-76 season with ankle injury, suffered in Los Angeles' Oct. 17, 1975, game at Vancouver. He did not return until Los Angeles' Oct. 22, 1975, game at Chicago. ... Missed part of 1975-76 season with back injury, suffered during Los Angeles' Dec. 31, 1975, game at Pittsburgh. He did not return until Los Angeles' Jan. 7, 1976, game at Kansas City. ... Missed part of 1975-76 season with re-aggravation of back injury, suffered during Los Angeles' Jan. 18, 1976, game at Detroit. He did not return until Los Angeles' Feb. 4, 1976, game vs. Buffalo. ... Missed Los Angeles' 1977-78 regular-season opener with back injury, suffered during team's 1977 training camp. ... Missed part of 1977-78 season with chip fracture in left ankle, an injury suffered during Los Angeles' Dec. 3, 1977, game vs. Atlanta. He did not return until Los Angeles' Jan. 1, 1978, game vs. Colorado.

Miscellaneous:

About This Site • Help Support HDC • Privacy Policy • Contact Info • Feedback