Justin Williams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Nickname | Frog Killer |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (89 kg) |
| NHL Team F. Teams |
Carolina Hurricanes Philadelphia Flyers |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | October 4, 1981, Cobourg, ON, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 28th overall, 2000 Philadelphia Flyers |
| Pro Career | 2000 – present |
Justin Williams (born 4 October 1981 in Cobourg, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Williams was drafted 28th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, held at the Pengrowth Saddledome, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has played 340 career NHL games, scoring 79 goals and 120 assists for 209 points.
Justin Williams played minor hockey in Port Hope, Ontario before gaining a reputation as a skilled playmaker with the Cobourg Cougars in 1998. He finished his Juniors hockey with two seasons played for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
In four seasons played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Williams struggled to live up to expectations, trying to adapt to the varying systems of three separate coaches, Craig Ramsey(2000), Bill Barber(2000-02), and Ken Hitchcock(2002-present). Williams was also frequently injured, perhaps hampering his development. He broke his left hand in his rookie season, and had various sprains and strains in his sophomore year. Williams suffered an injury on January 18, 2003, when he was hit low by Tampa Bay's Brad Lukowich. The hit tore Williams' ACL and MCL, and on January 23, 2003, he had surgery to repair the ligaments. Originally projected to miss 4-8 months recovering from the injury, Williams made it back into Philadelphia's lineup in just three months.
Williams was traded to Carolina on January 20, 2004, in exchange for defenseman Danny Markov. During the NHL Lockout in 2004-05, he went overseas to play for Lulea HF of the Swedish Elite League, where he posted 14 goals and 18 assists in 49 games.
Williams was signed to a one year deal with the Hurricanes for the 2005-06 season, when he set career highs in games played(82), goals(31), assists(45), points(76), and penalty minutes(60).
Williams accidentally injured popular Montreal Canadiens hockey star and team captain Saku Koivu in Game 3 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, for which he was villainized in some Canadian newspapers and by many NHL fans.[citation needed] Williams posted 7 goals and 11 assists on his way to winning the Stanley Cup. Williams scored the final goal of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, an empty net goal at 18:59 of the third period, as the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 and won the series 4-3.
On July 1, 2006, Williams signed a 5-year deal, worth $3,500,000 per season, with the Hurricanes.
[edit] Awards
[edit] Records
[edit] Career statistics
Regular Season
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
2000-01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 63 12 13 25 22
2001-02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 75 17 23 40 32
2002-03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 41 8 16 24 22
2003-04 Philadelphia/Carolina NHL 79 11 33 44 64
2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 31 45 76 60
NHL Totals 340 79 130 209 200 148
[edit] International play
[edit] References
Categories: Articles lacking sources | Articles with unsourced statements | 1981 births | Living people | Canadian ice hockey players | Carolina Hurricanes players | National Hockey League first round draft picks | Philadelphia Flyers draft picks | Philadelphia Flyers players | Plymouth Whalers alumni | Stanley Cup champions | 2006 Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Championship Team
