# Bill Thomson (ice hockey)

William Ferguson Thomson (March 23, 1914 – August 6, 1993) was a British-born Canadian ice hockey player. He played nine games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1938–39 and 1943–44 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1931 to 1947, was spent in various minor leagues. Internationally Thomson played for Canada at the 1936 Winter Olympics, winning the silver medal.

## Early life

Thomson was born in Troon, Scotland, United Kingdom, and grew up in Port Arthur, Ontario. He played in Port Arthur for several years before turning professional in 1937.

## Career

Thomson played nine games professionally in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings. Thomson played with the Port Arthur Bearcats who won the 1935 Allan Cup as senior champions in Canada, and served as the Canadian national team at the 1936 Winter Olympics. Thomson scored seven goals in eight games to help win the silver medal. In 1987, he was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame as a member of that Olympic team.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1930–31 | Kenora Thistles | WDJHL | 12 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931–32 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 17 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1932–33 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 19 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 1933–34 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 13 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1934–35 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1934–35 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Al-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 1935–36 | Port Arthur Ports | TBSHL | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1936–37 | Port Arthur Bearcats | TBSHL | 31 | 34 | 15 | 49 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1937–38 | Syracuse Stars | IAHL | 47 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938–39 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1938–39 | Pittsburgh Hornets | IAHL | 38 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1938–39 | Syracuse Stars | IAHL | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1939–40 | Indianapolis Capitals | IAHL | 38 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 1939–40 | Syracuse Stars | IAHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1940–41 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 44 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1940–41 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1941–42 | Omaha Knights | AHA | 50 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| 1942–43 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 55 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 1943–44 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1943–44 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 45 | 20 | 38 | 58 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944–45 | Indianapolis Capitals | AHL | 32 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1945–46 | St. Louis Flyers | AHL | 23 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1945–46 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 28 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1946–47 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1946–47 | Minneapolis Millers | USHL | 26 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1947–48 | Tulsa Oilers | USHL | 56 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1948–49 | Dallas Texans | USHL | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1948–49 | Seattle Ironmen | PCHL | 9 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| IAHL/AHL totals | IAHL/AHL totals | IAHL/AHL totals | 380 | 92 | 174 | 266 | 97 | 33 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 14 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1936 | Canada | OLY | | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 |