Bill Stewart (1957)

For the former Chicago Black Hawks coach and NHL referee, see Bill Stewart.
Bill Donald Stewart (born October 6, 1957 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired Canadian defenceman.
Stewart started his National Hockey League career with the Buffalo Sabres in 1977. He also played for the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Minnesota North Stars. He left the NHL after the 1986 season, and played in Europe. He retired as a player in 1995. 
In 1998–1999 Stewart was the head coach of the New York Islanders. He then moved on for one tumultuous season as the head coach of the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League. The roster that year included Ryan Barnes, who was charged with assault with a weapon after a stick-swinging incident during a game in October. Later in the season, 3 of the team's other players (Nick Robinson, Mike D'Alessandro and Aaron Power) were charged with sexual assault. Finally, Stewart himself made headlines and was banned from entering the United States for twice smuggling a Ukrainian-born player over the Canada–United States border in the baggage compartment of the team bus. After that, Stewart moved on to coach in Germany.
==External links==
*Stewart's profile on the Buffalo Sabres alumni site
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*Ukrainian Weekly article on the player smuggling incidents
*CBC Sports article mentioning the team scandals
*CBC article on the player smuggling icidents
*CHL article on the Barrie Colts run for the Memorial Cup and the team controversies
*CHL article on the end of the Barrie Colts season, numerous suspensions, and controversies
Category:Born in 1957
Category:Barrie Colts coaches
Category:Brunico SG players
Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Courmaosta HC players
Category:HC Milano Saima players
Category:Kitchener Rangers alumni
Category:Minnesota North Stars players
Category:Niagara Falls Flyers alumni
Category:New York Islanders coaches
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Salt Lake Golden Eagles players
Category:Springfield Indians players
Category:St. Catharines Black Hawks alumni
Category:St. Catharines Saints players
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Val Gardena HC players
Category:Hershey Bears players
Category:Retired in 1995
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches