| Born: | Jan. 29, 1952 | Draft: | 1st overall New York Islanders 1972 |
| Hometown: | Toronto ON | Position: | Right Wing |
| Known For: | Shoots/Catches: | Left | |
| National Team: | Canada | Current Status: | Retired |
William Edward Harris (born January 29, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League who played from 1972 to 1984. He helped the New York Islanders reach the NHL playoff semi-finals four times in five seasons from 1975 to 1979.
Harris was drafted first overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft by the expansion Islanders. He is known for being the first New York Islander. He played on Long Island until he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on March 10, 1980, along with Dave Lewis for Butch Goring. Later that year, the Islanders won their first Stanley Cup of four in a row.
Harris was never part of a winning Cup team, but he is remembered for helping the Islanders grow from their initial days as an expansion franchise to a dominant team in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Harris played more than 500 consecutive games for the Islanders before he was traded. He finished off the last few seasons of his career with the Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring after the 1983–84 season.
Billy Harris Statistics
Deeper Dive
- 50 Years Ago in Hockey: Harris Reports to Amerks
- 50 Years Ago in Hockey: Shack Scores Double Knockout in Leafs Win
- Butch Goring Deal Still the Benchmark of Deadline Trades
- 50 Years Ago in Hockey – Big Night for the Big M
- New York Islanders’ Top 20 Goal Scorers All-Time
Achievements
- OHA Second All-Star Team (1971)
- OHL Second All-Star Team (1971)
- OHA First All-Star Team (1972)
- OHL Second All-Star Team (1972)
- OHL Most Points – Eddie Powers Trophy (1972)
- OHL Top Scoring Right Winger – Jim Mahon Trophy (1972)
- NHL All-Star Game (1976)