BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRO-CANADIAN " WILLIAM JAMES RILEY " IS A RETIRED CANADIAN ICE HOCKEY PLAYER AND WAS THE THIRD IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

                                            BLACK              SOCIAL             HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               William James Riley (born September 20, 1950 in Amherst, Nova Scoti

a) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player, and was the third black player in the National Hockey League.^{[citation needed]}

Riley was given a tryout with the Washington Capitals during their inaugural season and actually played in one game, but he spent most of his time in the minors, primarily with theDayton Gems. It was during this time that he played under future Capitals' coach Tom McVie. He would eventually be signed as a free agent by the Capitals during the 1976–77 NHL season and would play for the Capitals in parts of the next three seasons.

Riley was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft, but only played in 14 games before he was sent to the minors, where he played until he retired following the 1983–84 season.

Riley was player-coach and captain of the St. John's Caps located in Newfoundland for a number of years during the late 1980s.

After retiring from professional play, Riley moved into coaching. He was the Head Coach, General Manager and Director Of Player Personnel of the Miramichi Timberwolves of theMaritime Junior A Hockey League. He also served as Head Coach of the Moncton Wildcats during the 1996–97 season, finishing with a 16–52–2.