Shot Right Height 1.85 m Positions Winger Role Ice hockey player Career end 1980 | Name Bill Flett Career start 1967 Playing career Weight 88 kg | |
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Born July 21, 1943Vermilion, AB, CAN ( 1943-07-21 ) Played for Los Angeles KingsPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple LeafsAtlanta FlamesEdmonton Oilers Died July 12, 1999, Edmonton, Canada | ||
Mar 11, 1972 Bill Flett vs Bob Plager Philadelphia Flyers vs St Louis Blues
William Mayer "Cowboy" Flett (July 21, 1943 – July 12, 1999) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
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Playing career
Born in Vermilion, Alberta, Flett began his career with the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL. From 1963 through 1967, he played for various minor league teams. Finally, in 1967, the NHL expanded from six to twelve teams and Flett was drafted by the expansion Los Angeles Kings. In his rookie season, playing on right wing, he scored 26 goals and was named The Sporting News NHL West Division rookie of the year.
Flett was nicknamed "Cowboy" because in addition to being a hockey player, he owned a cattle ranch in Alberta and he was also a rodeo performer. Flett's rodeo career ended when the Los Angeles Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke threatened to fine him $1000 for every rodeo he appeared in. He was well known throughout his career for being one of the few hockey players at the time to sport a full beard, and for being one of the last players to play without a helmet. Not known for his playmaking skill or skating, Flett did possess a booming and heavy slapshot and when paired with the right center who could get him the puck, he was among the league's biggest scoring threats.
Flett scored 24 goals in his sophomore season. His goal production declined significantly in his next two seasons. Fed up with his dwindling production, the Kings traded Flett, along with Eddie Joyal and Ross Lonsberry to the Philadelphia Flyers where he had his best season in 1972–73 with 43 goals. Flett was a member of the Flyers 1974 Stanley Cup champion team. After the season ended, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs where he reverted to his indifferent play, and as a result, the Leafs put him on waivers. The Atlanta Flames picked him from waivers, and Flett had one last productive year in the NHL when he scored 23 goals in 1975–76. In 1976–77, the Flames sold him to the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA where he contributed nicely to the Oilers offence. When Edmonton joined the NHL, he found he had little left and retired after 20 games. He scouted for the Oilers after that.
In May 1999, Flett entered the hospital due to a gall bladder condition which eventually contributed to liver failure. Flett received a liver transplant; however, his body rejected the transplant. Flett died on July 12, 1999 due to liver failure. He had battled alcoholism for many years and claimed to be sober for "4 or 5 years" after checking into the Betty Ford Clinic in Rancho Mirage in the early 1990s. Flett is survived by his wife Doreen and three sons, Cody, Dean and Shane.
