Bill Flett

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William Mayer "Cowboy" Flett (b. Vermillion, Alberta, July 21, 1943. d. July 13, 1999) was a right wing who played in the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Atlanta Flames and finished his career with the Edmonton Oilers.

He started his career with the the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL and became property of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played in the minors until the new 1967 expansion Los Angeles Kings drafted him. In his rookie season, he scored 26 goals and was named The Sporting News rookie of the year in the West Division for 1967-68.

He got his nickname "Cowboy" because of his bronc-busting he did in rodeos. However, his rodeo career ended when Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke threatened to fine him $1000 for every rodeo he appeared in. The Cowboy had 24 goals in his sophomore season and let his talent erode from there. Fed up with his dwindling production, the Kings traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers where he had his best season in 1972-73 with 43 goals, and the following year, he played on his only Stanley Cup champion. He was traded to Toronto where he reverted to his indifferent play, and as a result, the Leafs put him on waivers. The Atlanta Flames chose him and Bill had one last productive year in the NHL when he scored 23 goals in 1975-76. In 1976-77, the Flames sold him to Edmonton of the WHA where he contributed nicely to the Oilers offence. When Edmonton joined the NHL, he found he had little left and retired after 20 games. He scouted for the Oilers after that.

In 1993, he suffered an ulcer that nearly killed him. In May of 1999, he entered the hospital with what he thought was severe heartburn. It turned out to be his gall bladder and after two operations, the problem caused his liver to fail. Soon after, he received a liver transplant. However, his body rejected the liver and the Cowboy died of liver failure on July 13, 1999 at the age of 55.