The hockey card world was a bit cruel to Bill Clement during his time in the National Hockey League. First, he was a regular in the league with the Philadelphia Flyers starting in mid 1971-72, yet his rookie card did not appear until the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee set. Second, O-Pee-Chee did an absolutely hideous job of painting a Washington Capitals jersey overtop his Flyers sweater on his 1975-76 card.
Bill Clement – Junior and Minor Pro
Clement played three years of junior hockey in the OHA with the Ottawa 67’s from 1967-68 to 1969-70. In the middle season, the Bill Long coached 67’s reached the post season for the first time in franchise history. Ottawa lost in the opening round to the Niagara Falls Flyers, nine points to five. Bill scored a goal and assisted on four over the seven games. It was the first season for Ottawa goalie Michel Larocque and the first full season for defenseman Denis Potvin.
Bill’s first year and a half of pro hockey was spent in the American Hockey League. In 1970-71, he played for the Quebec Aces. He led the team with 39 assists and 58 points over 69 regular season games. Quebec played off against the Springfield Kings in a one-game set to decide the final playoff spot.
Both Quebec and Springfield finished the regular season with just 66 points over the 72 game schedule and were second and third last in the league, just ahead of the Rochester Americans. Springfield won the game 4-3 in overtime. The Kings then went on to lose just one game in the Calder Cup playoffs to capture the championship.
In 1971-72, Clement played his final 26 games of minor pro hockey with the Richmond Robins of the AHL before being called up to the Flyers.
Bill Clement – NHL
Bill played 719 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1971-72 and 1981-82 with the Flyers, Capitals, Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames. Over that time, he scored 148 goals and assisted on 208 for 356 points. Clement played an additional 50 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, adding eight points.
Bill Clement Collection
Twice a Stanley Cup champion with the Flyers, Bill won with the team in 1973-74 and 1974-75. In the first year, he appeared in just four games for the Flyers during the playoffs. The following year, he played in 12 as the Flyers captured their second consecutive championship with a victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the finals.
In the off-season, after that second championship, Clement was dealt to the Capitals. He was team captain in Washington for 46 games before a trade sent him to Atlanta for Gerry Meehan. Bill played an additional 31 games with the Flames in 1975-76.
His best offensive season came in 1977-78 with Atlanta. Clement scored 20 goals and assisted on 30 for 50 points over 70 regular season games. After the franchise moved to Calgary, Bill got close to another championship. In 1980-81, Calgary reached the semi-finals before falling to the Minnesota North Stars in six games.
Bill Clement – Rookie Card, Etc.
The Bill Clement rookie card appears as number 357 in the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee set. Despite being an established NHL player, his first Topps card didn’t come around until 1975-76.
The Bill Clement 1975-76 O-Pee-Chee card is a fiasco. The image on the front was obviously taken at a game between the Capitals and Flyers from the year before. There are two other Washington players in the picture but their socks don’t match Bill’s. Clement’s socks are obviously Flyers away colours. O-Pee-Chee then attempted to paint a Washington Jersey onto Bill. The logo is a disaster that looks like it might have been drawn by a five year old.
Of course, this isn’t the only time O-Pee-Chee tried this terrible technique. The company, although defunct, still receives plenty of criticism to this day for their air-brushed alterations.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1967-68 | Ottawa 67’s | OHA | 38 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 41 |
| 1968-69 | Ottawa 67’s | OHA | 53 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 101 |
| 1969-70 | Ottawa 67’s | OHA | 54 | 19 | 36 | 55 | 62 |
| 1970-71 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 69 | 19 | 39 | 58 | 88 |
| 1971-72 | Richmond Robins | AHL | 26 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 20 |
| 1971-72 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 49 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 39 |
| 1972-73 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 73 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 51 |
| 1973-74 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 39 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| 1974-75 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 68 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 42 |
| 1975-76 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 46 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 20 |
| 1975-76 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 31 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 29 |
| 1976-77 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 67 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 27 |
| 1977-78 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 70 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 34 |
| 1978-79 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 65 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 14 |
| 1979-80 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 64 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 32 |
| 1980-81 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 78 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 33 |
| 1981-82 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 69 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 28 |
| NHL Totals | 719 | 148 | 208 | 356 | 383 |