Bill Goldsworthy
- March 29, 1996
- 51 years
- AIDS-related complications
About Bill Goldsworthy
Bill Goldsworthy, 51, Canadian ice hockey player (Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers), AIDS-related complications.
Explore other notable deaths in 1996 or deaths in March 1996.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Bill Goldsworthy?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|William Alfred Goldsworthy (August 24, 1944 – March 29, 1996) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played for three teams in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons between 1964 and 1978, mostly with the Minnesota North Stars. He retired from playing after two partial seasons in the World Hockey Association.
Playing career
Signed by the Boston Bruins of the NHL as a teenager, Goldsworthy played his junior days with the Bruins' Ontario Hockey Association affiliate Niagara Falls Flyers, a powerful team with future NHL stars Derek Sanderson, Bernie Parent, Jean Pronovost, Don Marcotte, Doug Favell and Rosaire Paiement among numerous others. Even with such a strong squad, Goldsworthy finished second and third in the team scoring his final two seasons with the club, en route to a Memorial Cup finals appearance in 1963 and winning it outright in 1965 in a series marked by brawls and suspensions. The latter season saw Goldsworthy's NHL debut, playing two scoreless games with the Bruins.
Goldsworthy's first two NHL goals came on December 12, 1965, in Boston's 5–3 loss to Detroit at Boston Garden.
With big league jobs tight in the days of the Original Six, Goldsworthy served a minor league apprenticeship the next two seasons, playing with the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League and the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League between occasional call-ups to Boston.
As it did with many other players, league expansion in 1967 gave Goldsworthy a full-time spot in the NHL. Drafted in the mid-rounds by the Minnesota North Stars, he became an immediate starter, showing his promise in the playoffs in Minnesota's debut season, scoring eight goals and fifteen points in fourteen games as the North Stars came within a game of reaching the Stanley Cup finals. His true break-out season came in 1969–70, when he scored 36 goals to begin a stretch where teamed with skilled playmakers such as Dennis Hextall and Jude Drouin, he scored thirty or more goals in five of the next six seasons to become the North Stars' first great scoring star.
His best offensive season was the 1973–74 season, when he set career highs in goals with 48 and points with 74, which saw him just missing a nomination to the Second All-Star Team at right wing. He cemented his popularity with Minnesota fans with the "Goldy Shuffle," a celebration Goldsworthy performed after each goal at home. Named team captain in 1974–75 after Ted Harris' trade, Goldsworthy served in that capacity for two seasons.
By 1976–77, the North Stars were in a rebuilding mode, having failed to make the playoffs in three years. In a decline due to an alcoholism problem that would become chronic, Goldsworthy was dealt to the New York Rangers. Early the next season, his skills were in a sharp decline, he was the first NHL player traded outright to a World Hockey Association squad, the Indianapolis Racers where he was player-coach. He was further dealt to the Edmonton Oilers for the 1978–79 season, where he played 17 games to finish out his playing career; he scored his final goal as a professional player with a goal in Game 3 of the Avco Cup Finals.
International play
Goldsworthy was a part of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, but played in only three games, scoring a goal and an assist.
Retirement and final years
Goldsworthy played 771 career NHL games, scoring 283 goals and 258 assists for 541 points, and added 18 goals and 19 assists in 40 playoff games. The North Stars retired his jersey number 8 on February 15, 1992.
After his retirement, Goldsworthy went into coaching, most notably for the Louisville Icehawks of the ECHL. He was also a scout for the San Jose Sharks.
Bill Goldsworthy died in 1996 of complications from AIDS, the first professional hockey player publicly known to have the disease. He was diagnosed in November 1994, and told the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1995 that his health problems stemmed from drinking and promiscuity. He was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Awards and achievements
- Played in four NHL All-Star Games (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976).
- Retired as the leading goal and point scorer for the North Stars franchise.
- Was the first player for a post-Original Six expansion team to score 200 and 250 goals.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Coaching record
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of Bill Goldsworthy; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Bill Goldsworthy on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Goldsworthy
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Bill Goldsworthy's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was William Alfred Goldsworthy born?
- A.August 24, 1944correct
- B.December 12, 1945
- C.March 29, 1944
- D.February 15, 1946
The biography states that William Alfred Goldsworthy was born on August 24, 1944.
Source: biography introduction
2.Which team did William Alfred Goldsworthy play for during his junior hockey career?
- A.Edmonton Oilers
- B.Oklahoma City Blazers
- C.Niagara Falls Flyerscorrect
- D.Indianapolis Racers
William Alfred Goldsworthy played his junior days with the Bruins' Ontario Hockey Association affiliate, the Niagara Falls Flyers.
Source: playing career section
3.In which year did William Alfred Goldsworthy win the Memorial Cup with the Niagara Falls Flyers?
- A.1965correct
- B.1963
- C.1967
- D.1964
William Alfred Goldsworthy's team, the Niagara Falls Flyers, won the Memorial Cup outright in 1965.
Source: playing career section
4.Against which team did William Alfred Goldsworthy score his first two NHL goals?
- A.Minnesota North Stars
- B.Detroit Red Wingscorrect
- C.Boston Bruins
- D.New York Rangers
William Alfred Goldsworthy's first two NHL goals came on December 12, 1965, in a game against Detroit.
Source: playing career section
5.What was the name of the celebration William Alfred Goldsworthy performed after scoring goals at home?
- A.The Boston Bounce
- B.The Goldy Shufflecorrect
- C.The North Star Slide
- D.The Minneapolis Mambo
William Alfred Goldsworthy cemented his popularity with Minnesota fans by performing the Goldy Shuffle after each goal at home.
Source: playing career section
6.In the 1973–74 season, how many goals did William Alfred Goldsworthy score to set a career high?
- A.36
- B.48correct
- C.74
- D.283
During the 1973–74 season, William Alfred Goldsworthy set his career high in goals with 48.
Source: playing career section
7.When did the Minnesota North Stars retire William Alfred Goldsworthy's jersey number 8?
- A.March 29, 1996
- B.November 1994
- C.1978
- D.February 15, 1992correct
The Minnesota North Stars retired William Alfred Goldsworthy's jersey number 8 on February 15, 1992.
Source: retirement and final years section
8.How many games did William Alfred Goldsworthy play for Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series?
- A.1
- B.14
- C.17
- D.3correct
William Alfred Goldsworthy was part of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series but played in only three games.
Source: international play section
9.Which ECHL team did William Alfred Goldsworthy coach after his playing career ended?
- A.Louisville Icehawkscorrect
- B.San Jose Sharks
- C.Oklahoma City Blazers
- D.Buffalo Bisons
After his retirement, William Alfred Goldsworthy went into coaching, most notably for the Louisville Icehawks of the ECHL.
Source: retirement and final years section
10.Where is William Alfred Goldsworthy buried?
- A.Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapoliscorrect
- B.Boston Garden
- C.A cemetery in Edmonton
- D.A cemetery in Niagara Falls
William Alfred Goldsworthy was buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Source: retirement and final years section
11.In which year did William Alfred Goldsworthy pass away?
- A.1992
- B.1995
- C.1996correct
- D.1994
William Alfred Goldsworthy died in 1996 of complications from AIDS.
Source: biography introduction
12.How many NHL All-Star Games did William Alfred Goldsworthy play in during his career?
- A.5
- B.4correct
- C.2
- D.6
William Alfred Goldsworthy played in four NHL All-Star Games in 1970, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
Source: awards and achievements section
13.What was the reason William Alfred Goldsworthy was traded to the New York Rangers in 1976–77?
- A.A trade for draft picks
- B.A request to be closer to his family
- C.A rebuilding mode by the teamcorrect
- D.A contract dispute
By 1976–77, the North Stars were in a rebuilding mode, leading to William Alfred Goldsworthy being dealt to the New York Rangers.
Source: playing career section
14.What organization did William Alfred Goldsworthy scout for after retiring from professional play?
- A.Minnesota North Stars
- B.New York Rangers
- C.Boston Bruins
- D.San Jose Sharkscorrect
William Alfred Goldsworthy was a scout for the San Jose Sharks after his playing career.
Source: retirement and final years section
15.Which WHA team did William Alfred Goldsworthy serve as a player-coach for?
- A.Indianapolis Racerscorrect
- B.Edmonton Oilers
- C.Oklahoma City Blazers
- D.Buffalo Bisons
William Alfred Goldsworthy was traded to the Indianapolis Racers in the WHA, where he served as a player-coach.
Source: playing career section
16.In what year was William Alfred Goldsworthy diagnosed with the disease that caused his death?
- A.1992
- B.1996
- C.1994correct
- D.1995
William Alfred Goldsworthy was diagnosed with AIDS in November 1994.
Source: retirement and final years section
Explore the archive
People who died on March 29
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Bill Goldsworthy →Advertisement
