Selected by Jets in General Player Draft, February 12, 1972.
The Jets signed veteran centerman Bill Sutherland in September 1972 and he spent the entire 1972-1973 season with the Jets as they advanced to the AVCO Cup finals that year. He retired following that season, but with the Jets struggling midway through the 1973-1974 season, he was coaxed back for one final year and played in 12 regular season games and all four playoff games as the Jets were easily dispatched by the Houston Aeros. He retired for good following the 1973-1974 season. Sutherland's pro career dated back to the 1955-1956 season and he played for a number of NHL teams, most notably, the Philadelphia Flyers. After his playing career, he worked for the Jets for many years as an assistant coach and briefly served as the head coach. He was also noted for being the emergency guest on the Jets' radio broadcasts.
