Bill Watters: key obituary facts
Is Bill Watters dead? Yes. Bill Watters died on November 15, 2026, at age 83.
Cause of death: Bill Watters's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bill Watters known for?
He was a Canadian sports media personality.
More about Bill Watters
Born: 29 June 1943.
Place of birth: Orillia.
Gender: male.
Occupation: ice hockey player, Canadian football player.
Nationality: Canada.
Education: University of Toronto, North Toronto Collegiate Institute.
Also known as: William Wayne Watters.
Occupations: Sportscaster, player agent, general manager, CFL player.
Known for: Hockey Central cohost, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager.
Bill Watters, the Hockey Central cohost and Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, died November 15, 2026, aged 83.
Born William Wayne Watters in Orillia, he attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto, where he played football for the Varsity Blues from 1961 to 1964. A fullback and linebacker, he was a team co-captain and league all-star at linebacker in 1963 and 1964; in his final season, he received the Johnny Copp Trophy as the team’s most valuable player.
Watters also wrestled for the university team for three seasons. The Toronto Argonauts selected him second overall in the 1964 CFL draft, but a knee injury ended his playing prospects before he embarked on a career in teaching. He later moved into professional sports as a broadcaster and player agent, and worked in hockey management with the Maple Leafs as an assistant general manager. His work in sports media included cohosting Hockey Central, a role that became one of the defining parts of his public profile. Watters’ career spanned university athletics, teaching, hockey broadcasting, player representation and front-office work, linking his experience as a player with later roles in Canadian professional sports.