Bill Cowley, a native of Bristol, Quebec, played 13 NHL seasons, including the last 12 with the Boston Bruins from 1935-47. A center, Cowley had 549 points (195 goals, 354 assists) in 549 regular-season games and 46 points (12 goals, 34 assists) in 64 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

After playing for the Ottawa Primrose and Shamrocks in the Ottawa City Junior Hockey League from 1930-32, Cowley moved up to the Shamrocks senior team for one season before dominating with the Halifax Wolverines in the Maritime Senior Hockey League in 1933-34. That season, he led the league with 25 goals and 50 points in 38 games.

Cowley then entered the NHL with the St. Louis Eagles in 1934 and had five goals and seven assists in 41 games. The St. Louis franchise folded after the season, and Cowley was selected by the Bruins in a dispersal draft.

Initially used by the Bruins as a wing, Cowley's skating and passing abilities left them with no choice but to move him to center, where he thrived. Cowley led the NHL in assists three times (1938-39, 1940-41, 1942-43) and had at least 30 five times.

He helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup twice, first in 1939 when he led all playoff scorers with 14 points in 12 games, and again in 1941. A two-time Hart Trophy winner (1940-41, 1942-43) and four-time NHL First All-Star Team selection known for his passing, Cowley scored four goals in a 10-9 win against the New York Rangers on March 4, 1944.

Cowley had 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 51 games for the Bruins in 1946-47, his final NHL season. He would be the League's all-time points leader for the next five seasons until his record was surpassed by Elmer Lach in 1952.

Cowley was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1968. He died in 1993 at the age of 81.