Bill Nyrop

William "Bill" Nyrop (July 23, 1952 – December 31, 1995) was an American professional player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, 1977, and 1978.
==Early life==
As a boy, Bill attended Edina (Minnesota) 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 in 1971–1972, Nyrop was selected 66th overall by the Montreal Canadiens at the Amateur Draft. 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.
==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 Kölner Haie of the German league in 1982–1983 before retiring for good.
==Post career== 
After retirement, he attended Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington, earning his law degree in 1986. 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==
Season 	Club 	League 	REGULAR SEASON	REGULAR SEASON	REGULAR SEASON	REGULAR SEASON	REGULAR SEASON	REGULAR SEASON	SEASON PLAYOFFS	SEASON PLAYOFFS	SEASON PLAYOFFS	SEASON PLAYOFFS	SEASON PLAYOFFS
Season 	Club 	League 	GP 	G 	A 	TP 	PIM 	+/- 	GP 	G 	A 	TP 	PIM
1967-1970 	Edina Hornets (Edina High School)	Minnesota High School League	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1970-1971 	University of Notre Dame 	WCHA 	30 	2 	4 	6 	40 	 	 	 	 	 	
1971-1972 	University of Notre Dame 	WCHA 	31 	3 	18 	21 	44 	 	 	 	 	 	
1972-1973 	University of Notre Dame 	WCHA 	38 	3 	21 	24 	46 	 	 	 	 	 	
1973-1974 	University of Notre Dame 	WCHA 	33 	9 	29 	38 	44 	 	 	 	 	 	
1974-1975 	Nova Scotia Voyageurs 	AHL 	75 	2 	22 	24 	76 	 	6 	0 	5 	5 	0
1975-1976 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	19 	0 	3 	3 	8 	+21 	13 	0 	3 	3 	12
1975-1976 	Nova Scotia Voyageurs 	AHL 	52 	3 	25 	28 	30 	 	 	 	 	 	
1976-1977 	United States 	Canada Cup 	5 	1 	1 	2 	0 	 	 	 	 	 	
1976-1977 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	74 	3 	19 	22 	21 	+42 	8 	1 	0 	1 	4
1977-1978 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	72 	5 	21 	26 	37 	+56 	12 	0 	4 	4 	6
1978-1979 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1979-1980 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1980-1981 	Minnesota North Stars 	DN-Cup 	3 	2 	1 	3 	0 	 	 	 	 	 	
1981-1982 	Minnesota North Stars 	NHL 	42 	4 	8 	12 	35 	+14 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
1982-1983 	Kolner 	German league 	19 	3 	2 	5 	8 	 	 	 	 	 	
NHL Totals	NHL Totals 	NHL Totals 	207 	12 	51 	63 	101 	 	35 	1 	7 	8 	22
Category:American ice hockey players
Category:Minnesota North Stars players
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Nova Scotia Voyageurs players
Category:Kölner Haie players
Category:Retired in 1983