Bill Nyrop

William "Bill" Nyrop (July 23, 1952 – December 31, 1995) was a professional ice hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, 1977, and 1978.

Early life

Born in Washington, D.C., his father, Donald Nyrop, served as U.S. Administrator of Civil Aeronautics (now the Federal Aviation Administration) and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board (now National Transportation Safety Board) under President Harry S. Truman in the early 1950s.Hockey Draft Central, [http://hockeydraftcentral.com/1972/72066.html Bill Nyrop profile] ] Donald Nyrop moved his family to Edina, Minnesota, where he served as president, CEO and chairman of the board of Northwest Airlines from 1954–1976. As a boy, Bill attended Edina High School, where he was an all-star athlete, playing quarterback for an undefeated football team and leading the hockey team to its first state title in 1969.

After graduation from high school in 1970, Nyrop attended the University of Notre Dame. He tried out for the Notre Dame football team in 1971 and won a spot on the roster as the backup quarterback. However, he was injured in practice and never played for the team, instead playing hockey during his four years in college. After his sophomore year with the Fighting Irish in 1971–1972, Nyrop was selected 66th overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the Amateur Draft.Legends of Hockey, legendsofhockey|13868] He attended his first pro training camp in September 1972, and in 1973 he was voted on to the WCHA first all-star team and the NCAA west first all-American team. The next year he represented the United States at the "B" Pool Ice Hockey World Championship where he was named to the tournament All-Star team as the best defenceman.

WWE Professional wrestler John Cena has stated on his "5 questions" segment that Bill Nyrop is in his top 10 favourite professional hockey players from the 1970s.

Pro career

During his first pro season with the American Hockey League's Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1974–1975, he played with the stability of a seasoned veteran. He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut the next year on February 22, 1976 with the Montreal Canadiens, suiting up for 19 games and became a regular on the blueline in the playoffs as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. Later that year he scored two points in five games and was a pillar on the blueline as team captain for the United States team at the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup. Nyrop spent two years on the Montreal defence and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 1977 and 1978. After the 1977–1978 season, Nyrop stepped away from the game to study law. His rights were traded by the Canadiens to the Minnesota North Stars in September 1980 and he returned to the NHL a year later. He dressed for 42 games on the Stars blueline and two post-season contests when his team was upset by Chicago in the first round. He played briefly for Kolner Haie of the German league in 1982–1983 before retiring for good.

Post career

After retirement, he set up his law practice then returned to hockey as the coach and owner of the Sunshine Hockey League's West Palm Beach Blaze. After guiding the club to three straight league championships, he sold his interest in the club due to failing health. In September 1995 he was diagnosed with inoperable colon cancer (that spread to his liver and lungs) and died three months later in his father's home in Minneapolis at age 43.

Career statistics

References