# Bill Plager

William Ronald Plager (July 6, 1945 — January 3, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.
Plager started his National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames. He left the NHL after the 1976 season.

## Personal life

Before playing in the National Hockey League, Plager played for the Peterborough Petes in Peterborough, Ontario, where he met his wife Donna Hickey. After retiring from the NHL, Plager returned to Peterborough with Donna, sons William Jr., Brett and daughter Dara. Plager is the brother of former NHL players/coaches Bob Plager and Barclay Plager. All three played together for four seasons with the St. Louis Blues.
Plager retired from hockey and became a manager at Quaker Oats Peterborough plant and was head coach of Atom B/C IceKats, girls hockey teams in the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association. He died on January 3, 2016.

## 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 |
| 1962–63 | Peterborough Petes | OHA | 49 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963–64 | Lachine Maroons | MMJHL | 40 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 187 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1963–64 | Notre Dame Monarchs | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| 1964–65 | Peterborough Petes | OHA | 27 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 77 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 31 |
| 1965–66 | Peterborough Petes | OHA | 47 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 190 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 1966–67 | Houston Apollos | CHL | 51 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 130 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 1967–68 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 32 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 1967–68 | Memphis South Stars | CHL | 30 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1968–69 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1968–69 | Kansas City Blues | CHL | 35 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 66 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1969–70 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969–70 | Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 48 | 2 | 28 | 30 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1970–71 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 36 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1970–71 | Kansas City Blues | CHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 65 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 64 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 1971–72 | Denver Spurs | WHL | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 76 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 67 | 4 | 33 | 37 | 122 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 1974–75 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 64 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 101 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 23 |
| 1975–76 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 48 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 58 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1976–77 | Erie Blades | NAHL | 64 | 5 | 25 | 30 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 263 | 4 | 35 | 39 | 294 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 |

## Transactions

* Traded to Minnesota by Montreal with the rights to Barrie Meissner and Leo Thiffault for Bryan Watson, June 6, 1967.
* Claimed by NY Rangers from Minnesota in Intra-League Draft, June 12, 1968.
* Traded to St. Louis by NY Rangers with Camille Henry and Robbie Irons for Don Caley and Wayne Rivers, June 13, 1968.
* Claimed by Atlanta from St. Louis in Expansion Draft, June 6, 1972.
* Claimed by Minnesota from Atlanta in Intra-League Draft, June 12, 1973.

## Awards and achievements

* AHL Second All-Star Team (1975)