Justin Williams

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 195
team = Carolina Hurricanes
former_teams = Philadelphia Flyers
league = NHL
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1981|10|4
birth_place = Cobourg, ON, CAN
career_start = 2000
draft = 28th overall
draft_year = 2000
draft_team = Philadelphia Flyers
website = [http://williams11.com Williams11.com]

Justin Williams (born October 4, 1981 in Cobourg, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

Playing career

Justin Williams played minor hockey in Port Hope, Ontario before gaining a reputation as a skilled playmaker with the Cobourg Cougars in 1998. He finished his Juniors hockey with two seasons played for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.

In four seasons played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Williams struggled to live up to expectations (even though he was adored by female fans everywhere), trying to adapt to the varying systems of three separate coaches, Craig Ramsay (2000), Bill Barber (2000–02), and Ken Hitchcock (2002–06). Williams was also frequently injured, perhaps hampering his development. He broke his left hand in his rookie season(hit by David Tanabe, Carolina Hurricanes), and had various sprains and strains in his sophomore year. Williams suffered a left knee injury on January 18, 2003, when he was hit low by Tampa Bay's Brad Lukowich. The hit tore Williams's ACL and MCL, and on January 23, 2003, he had surgery to repair the ligaments. Originally projected to miss 4–8 months recovering from the injury, Williams made it back into Philadelphia's lineup in just three months.

Williams was traded to Carolina on January 20, 2004, in exchange for defenceman Danny Markov. During the NHL Lockout in 2004–05, he went overseas to play for Lulea HF of the Swedish Elite League, where he posted 14 goals and 18 assists in 49 games.

Williams was signed to a one year deal with the Hurricanes for the 2005–06 season, when he set career highs in games played (82), goals(31), assists(45), points(76), and penalty minutes (60).

Williams unintentionally injured popular Montreal Canadiens hockey star and team captain Saku Koivu in Game 3 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, for which he was villainized in some Canadian newspapers and by many Canadiens fans. Williams posted 7 goals and 11 assists on his way to winning the Stanley Cup. Williams scored the final goal of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, an empty net goal at 18:59 of the third period, icing the win as the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3–1 and won the series 4–3.

On July 1, 2006, Williams signed a 5-year deal with the Hurricanes, worth $3,500,000 per season.

On August 12th, 2006, Williams married his fiancee, Kelly.

In 2006–07 Williams recorded career highs in goals(33), penalty minutes(73), power play goals(12), and game-winning goals(8). It was Williams' second consecutive season of 82 games played. Williams made his first appearance in an NHL All-Star game at the 2007 NHL All-Star game in Dallas, recording a goal and an assist. Williams also played for Team Canada in the World Championships, winning his second gold medal.

Williams was off to a good start for his 2007–08 season, with 30 points in 36 games(9 goals, 21 assists), when his luck ran out and his season came to a screeching halt. On December 20, 2007, during the first period of a game with the Florida Panthers, Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee after a hit by Rostislav Olesz. Williams underwent successful surgery for the torn ligaments on December 26, 2007, and returned on April 1, 2008, only to leave the game with an unrelated back injury.

Justin and Kelly Williams celebrated the birth of their son, Jaxon, on July 3, 2008.

On September 17, 2008, Williams was sidelined for 4-6 months when he tore his right Achilles tendon in an off-ice, preseason workout. Williams underwent surgery for said injury on September 18, 2008. Williams will wear a full leg cast for 6-8 weeks.

Career statistics

International play

He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4–2 win against Finland in Moscow.

ee also

*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of OHL seasons

External links

*hockeydb|42448
*TSN-NHL-profile|2150
* [http://williams11.com Williams11.com]