Bill Riley, a Canadian ice hockey player and coach, died on March 29, 2026, of cancer.
Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, on September 20, 1950, he played 139 NHL games for the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets between 1974 and 1980. Riley was the third black player and the first of African Nova Scotian descent in the NHL.
His career, which ran from 1974 to 1989, was otherwise spent in the minor leagues, and he also coached the Moncton Wildcats.
William James Riley (September 20, 1950 – March 29, 2026) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, and was the third black player and first of African Nova Scotian descent in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 139 games for the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets between 1974 and 1980. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1974 to 1989, was spent in the minor leagues.