Bill Taugher

Biography:

A student at Regiopolis College, who left school to join the family’s blacksmith business, Bill’s ability as a goaltender became evident with a strong Regi team. This led him to a spot on the Kingston Combines, who in 1926 won the Ontario Hockey Association Junior Championship, and to date became the first and only local team to play in the Memorial Cup.

Bill turned professional the next season with Hamilton of the Canadian Professional League, and stayed with the team when it moved to Buffalo and joined the International Hockey League the following season. After helping the Bisons to championships in 1932 and 1933, he remained in the league with Cleveland and Rochester. Bill led the International League in wins four times and compiled a 1.66 goals-against-average over seven seasons.

Widely considered a National Hockey League calibre goalie, Bill played just one game in the league. While still a member of the Combines, Bill was summoned by the Montreal Canadiens on an emergency basis to play a game in the 1926 season replacing Georges Vezina.

Bill retired from hockey at the age of 29 after having suffered many injuries, the effects of which persisted throughout the rest of his life and likely contributed to his early death at 36 years old.