Bill Mahoney

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player and coach (1939–2021)}}

{{other people|William Mahoney}}

William Mahoney (June 23, 1939 – December 16, 2021) was a Canadian ice hockey coach. He was head coach of the Minnesota North Stars from 1983 to 1985.{{Cite web |last=Rutchick |first=Joel |date=November 8, 1984 |title=North Stars fire Mahoney, name Sonmor coach - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/08/North-Stars-fire-Mahoney-name-Sonmor-coach/9453468738000/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=UPI |language=en}}

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, he was a star multi-sport athlete. In addition to playing hockey, Mahoney was also a renowned lacrosse player, a Canadian football quarterback, and a softball pitcher. He was part of the Peterborough Shamrocks bantam "A" team, which won the 1953 provincial championship. In 1956, he became the first local native to play for the Peterborough Petes, and he served as captain of this junior "A" squad during the 1958 season. Mahoney later played university hockey at Carleton University in Ottawa and at McMaster University in Hamilton.{{cite web |title=William (Bill) Mahoney |date=2013-05-22 |work=Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame & Museum |url=https://pdshof.com/inductees/william-bill-mahoney/ |access-date=2013-10-24}}{{cite web |title=William (Bill) Mahoney |date=1982 |work=Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame & Museum |url=https://pdshof.com/inductees/william-bill-mahoney/ |access-date=2021-02-09}}

In 1963, Mahoney led the McMaster Marauders to become the first-ever Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) ice hockey champions, at the inaugural CIAU University Cup tournament, also winning the first ever tournament Most Valuable Player award.{{cite web |url=https://usports.ca/uploads/cis/Awards/sports_awards/MICE/files/MHKY_-_MVP.pdf |title=Major W.J. ‘Danny’ McLeod Award (University Cup Tournament MVP) |work=U Sports |access-date=2021-02-09}}

Although Mahoney never played pro hockey, he had a long coaching career, serving 16 years behind the bench with the McMaster University squads. In 1980, he was hired as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, but he was released as part of a 1981 clearing of the coaching staff. In 1982, he became coach of the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL before gaining his position with Minnesota of the NHL.{{cite news |title=Mahoney Bound for Minnesota |first=Mike |last=Kane |date=1983-06-01 |newspaper=The Daily Gazette |location=Schenectady, New York |page=14 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19830601&id=GwwhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TnMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5004,127641 |access-date=2013-10-24 |via=Google News Archive}}

In 1982, Mahoney was inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, for his combined achievements in both hockey and softball. He died on December 16, 2021, from complications of dementia, at the age of 82.{{Cite web |last=Director |first=Mike Davies Examiner Sports |date=2021-12-17 |title=Former Peterborough Petes captain Bill Mahoney dies at 82 |url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/hockey/petes/former-peterborough-petes-captain-bill-mahoney-dies-at-82/article_838210c2-0e03-59c8-8e88-925366220481.html |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=The Peterborough Examiner |language=en}}