Jason Williams

Jason Williams (born August 11, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger.
Williams has played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was a member of the 2002 Stanley Cup championship Red Wings team.
==Playing career==
===Detroit Red Wings===
As a youth, he played in the 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from London, Ontario.
Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Red Wings on September 18, 2000. He played the first few seasons with Detroit's minor league affiliates in the American Hockey League, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 2001–02, he played 25 games with the Red Wings and scored his first career NHL goal. Williams would also suit up for the Red Wings in nine playoff games en route to a Stanley Cup championship.
When NHL play was halted due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Williams played overseas in the SM-liiga with Porin Ässät. Returning to the Wings in 2005–06 under new head coach Mike Babcock, Williams broke out with 21 goals and 58 points, frequently playing on a line with Steve Yzerman and Robert Lang. On October 22, 2005, Williams notched his first career hat trick in a 6–0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. All three goals came in the first period of that game; it was the first time Red Wings player scored three times in a single period since Darren McCarty's hat trick in the third period of game one against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2002 Western Conference Finals.
Following Williams' breakout season, he re-signed with Detroit on a new two-year deal worth $3.2 million. On November 8, 2006, during a game against the Edmonton Oilers, Williams was injured when he was checked from behind the net by Raffi Torres, causing his head to hit the ice. Williams was taken off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Detroit Medical Center. He was released from the hospital on November 9 with facial lacerations and a first-degree concussion. The Red Wings put him on the injured reserve list, causing him to miss a minimum of 10 days. According to the Red Wings, he never lost consciousness.
=== Chicago Blackhawks===
Later that season, Williams was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks on February 26, 2007, in a three-way trade that also included the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers received a third round draft pick and Lasse Kukkonen from the Blackhawks in exchange for Kyle Calder; in turn, the Blackhawks sent Calder to the Red Wings in exchange for Williams. He scored twice in his first return to Joe Louis Arena as a member of the Blackhawks.
=== Atlanta Thrashers/Columbus Blue Jackets===
After a 36-point season in 43 games with Chicago, Williams became an unrestricted free agent and was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers on July 13, 2008, to a one-year, $2.2 million deal. On January 14, 2009, Williams was traded by the Thrashers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Clay Wilson and a sixth round draft pick. Williams performed well with Columbus, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists for the remainder of the 2008–09 season as the Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their history. Williams and the Blue Jackets were swept in the first round by Williams' former team, the Detroit Red Wings.
left|thumb|Williams shootout attempt vs Marc-André Fleury, January 2010.
===Return to Detroit===
On August 6, 2009, Williams returned as a free agent to the Red Wings after signing a one-year contract. On November 7, 2009 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Williams suffered a fractured fibula, and missed several weeks with the injury. On January 29, 2010, Williams was activated off of injured reserve from his injury."Forward Williams returns to Red Wings". Associated Press. January 29, 2010. He scored a powerplay goal in his first game back from injury against the Nashville Predators, a 4-2 Red Wings victory.
===Remaining professional career===
On December 27, 2010, Williams was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers and played for their AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale. On February 11, 2011, he was released from his PTO with the Whale. Williams was then signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars on February 12, 2011, for the remainder of the season.
On July 26, 2011, he signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Williams was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, for the majority of the 2011–12 season, however was recalled to produce a goal and assist in an eight-game stint with Pittsburgh.
With limited NHL interest in 2012, Williams opted to resume his career in Europe, agreeing to a two-year contract with the Swiss club, HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League A. Over two seasons, with Ambri, Williams became entrenched in a top scoring line role, contributing with 64 points in 79 games.
Williams opted to return to North America following the completion of his contract in Switzerland, to sign a one-year free agent contract with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL on July 25, 2014. In the 2014–15 season, Williams provided the Barons with a veteran presence and leadership while showing no loss of his offensive touch with 53 points in 72 games.
On July 16, 2015, Williams made another return to Europe in signing with his first German club, Kölner Haie of the DEL, on a one-year deal. He sustained a back injury in pre-season and played only nine games during the 2015–16 season.
In late October 2016, he signed a short-term deal with Italian side Ritten Sport. Williams was instrumental in helping the team reach the IIHF Continental Cup final four, tallying three goals and three assists in three games. He also scored three goals and assisted on one more in two Alps Hockey League contests for Ritten.
In December 2016, Williams moved to the UK to sign for the Nottingham Panthers.
Williams has since had spells with Allan Cup Hockey (ACH) sides Brantford Blast and Dundas Real McCoys.
==Personal information==
Jason attended Regina Mundi High School in London, Ontario, Canada. Jason was married in July 2010 to his longtime girlfriend Julie, whom he met during high school.
==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
1995–96 	Mount Brydges Bulldogs 	SOJHL 		36 	31 	28 	59 	18 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Peterborough Petes 	OHL 		60 	4 	8 	12 	8 		10 	1 	0 	1 	2
1997–98 	Peterborough Petes 	OHL 		55 	8 	27 	35 	31 		4 	0 	1 	1 	2
1998–99 	Peterborough Petes 	OHL 		68 	26 	48 	74 	42 		5 	1 	2 	3 	2
1999–00 	Peterborough Petes 	OHL 		66 	36 	37 	73 	64 		5 	2 	1 	3 	2
2000–01 	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 	AHL 		76 	24 	45 	69 	48 		1 	0 	0 	0 	2
2000–01 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		5 	0 	3 	3 	2 		2 	0 	0 	0 	0
2001–02 	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 	AHL 		52 	23 	27 	50 	27 		3 	0 	1 	1 	6
2001–02 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		25 	8 	2 	10 	4 		9 	0 	0 	0 	2
2002–03 	Grand Rapids Griffins 	AHL 		45 	23 	22 	45 	18 		15 	1 	7 	8 	16
2002–03 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		16 	3 	3 	6 	2 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		49 	6 	7 	13 	15 		3 	0 	0 	0 	2
2004–05 	Ässät 	SM-l 		43 	26 	17 	43 	52 		2 	1 	1 	2 	4
2005–06 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		80 	21 	37 	58 	26 		6 	1 	1 	2 	6
2006–07 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		58 	11 	15 	26 	24 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		20 	4 	2 	6 	20 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 		43 	13 	23 	36 	22 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	Atlanta Thrashers 	NHL 		41 	7 	11 	18 	8 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	NHL 		39 	12 	17 	29 	16 		4 	0 	1 	1 	2
2009–10 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 		44 	6 	9 	15 	8 		3 	0 	0 	0 	0
2010–11 	Connecticut Whale 	AHL 		17 	4 	5 	9 	10 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2010–11 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		27 	2 	3 	5 	6 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2011–12 	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL 		59 	13 	29 	42 	32 		12 	3 	10 	13 	2
2011–12 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 		8 	1 	1 	2 	4 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2012–13 	HC Ambrì–Piotta 	NLA 		47 	26 	20 	46 	16 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2013–14 	HC Ambrì–Piotta 	NLA 		32 	8 	10 	18 	12 		2 	0 	1 	1 	0
2014–15 	Oklahoma City Barons 	AHL 		72 	21 	32 	53 	30 		10 	0 	5 	5 	6
2015–16 	Kölner Haie 	DEL 		9 	0 	3 	3 	8 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Ritten Sport 	AlpsHL 		2 	1 	3 	4 	0 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Nottingham Panthers 	GBR 		11 	5 	9 	14 	0 		2 	0 	1 	1 	0
2017–18 	Brantford Blast 	ACH 		10 	8 	7 	15 	2 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2018–19 	Dundas Real McCoys 	ACH 		2 	1 	4 	5 	0 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2019–20 	Dundas Real McCoys 	ACH 		4 	1 	3 	4 	0 		4 	1 	1 	2 	0
AHL totals	AHL totals 	AHL totals		321 	108 	160 	268 	165 		41 	4 	23 	27 	32
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals		455 	94 	133 	227 	157 		27 	1 	2 	3 	12
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	Result 		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006 	Canada 	WC 	4th 		9 	2	5	7 	2
Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals		9 	2	5	7 	2
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
==Awards and achievements==
*1999–2000 OHL Third All-Star Team
*1999–2000 OHL Plus/Minus Award
*2001–02 NHL Stanley Cup champion (Detroit Red Wings)
*Winner of the 2012 Spengler Cup
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:1980 births
Category:Ässät players
Category:Atlanta Thrashers players
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Cincinnati Mighty Ducks players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:Connecticut Whale (AHL) players
Category:Dallas Stars players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Grand Rapids Griffins players
Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players
Category:HC Ambrì-Piotta players
Category:Kölner Haie players
Category:Ritten Sport players
Category:Nottingham Panthers players
Category:Oklahoma City Barons players
Category:Peterborough Petes (ice hockey) players
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players
Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in England
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Finland
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Germany
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Switzerland