Willie Trognitz Explained

Position:Left Wing
Played For:Cincinnati Stingers
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:205
Birth Date:11 June 1953
Birth Place:Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Draft:82nd overall
Draft Team:California Golden Seals
Draft Year:1973
Career Start:1973
Career End:1980

Raymond William Trognitz (born June 11, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the World Hockey Association (WHA).[1] Trognitz played part of the 1977–78 WHA season with the Cincinnati Stingers.[2] He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by the California Golden Seals.[1]

Playing career

Trognitz is most noted for signing with the Stingers on November 7, 1977, just four days after the International Hockey League (IHL) had banned him for life for the damage he inflicted on the Port Huron Flags' Archie Henderson while a member of the Dayton Owls at the conclusion of a match-ending, bench-clearing brawl at the McMorran Place ice arena nine days prior on October 29. He had first come to the defense of teammate John Flesch by jumping Henderson from behind and breaking his nose with one of his punches. When Henderson later charged him looking for a fight, Trognitz swung his stick and cut him across the forehead. He accumulated 63 minutes in penalties, while Henderson ended up with a broken nose, eight stitches to the forehead, a slight concussion and an overnight stay at a Port Huron hospital. Needing an enforcer to protect its younger skilled players, the Stingers signed Trognitz to a contract in which he was paid $150 for each of ten games.[3] He dressed for all ten, played in seven and picked up 37 penalties minutes which included 25 in one contest against the Quebec Nordiques. He was offered another ten-game contract but rejected it, saying, "What's $150? I got guys making $150,000 hiding behind my back."[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1973 NHL Amateur Draft -- Willie Trognitz. Hockey Draft Central. March 29, 2014.
  2. Web site: Willie Trognitz at eliteprospects.com . www.eliteprospects.com . October 16, 2023.
  3. https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/11/28/wild-willie-gets-a-new-lease-on-life Gammons, Peter. "Wild Willie gets a new lease on life," Sports Illustrated, November 28, 1977.
  4. https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/12/12/scorecard Boyle, Robert H. "Scorecard: Exit Trognitz," Sports Illustrated, December 12, 1977.