Will Acton

William Kevin Acton
Born	(1987-07-16) July 16, 1987 Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player (former)
Known for	Playing in the NHL with Edmonton Oilers

William Kevin Acton (born July 16, 1987) is a former professional ice hockey player, originally from the United States and later a Canadian citizen, who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers.

Playing career

Acton spent four years competing in NCAA hockey at Lake Superior State University, where he amassed 77 points and 132 penalty minutes over 144 contests.

His professional journey commenced in March 2011 when the American Hockey League (AHL) team Toronto Marlies signed him to an amateur tryout agreement.

On July 5, 2013, Acton inked a two-year, two-way contract as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers. He started the 2013–14 NHL campaign on the Oilers' squad and netted his inaugural NHL goal on October 14, 2013, against Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. Throughout that season, he divided his time between Edmonton and their AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons.

In the 2014–15 season, after participating in three games for the Oilers, Acton was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on November 20, 2014, in exchange for center Kellan Lain. He was then assigned to Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he remained for the rest of the season.

As a free agent in September 2015, Acton signed a one-year deal with Schwenninger Wild Wings of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He led his team by recording 55 points (16 goals and 39 assists) in 46 games, placing third overall in DEL regular-season scoring.

After serving as captain for Schwenninger during the 2017–18 season, Acton agreed to a three-year contract with another DEL team, Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers, on April 26, 2018.

Personal

Born in Edina, Minnesota, Acton was raised in Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario. His father, Keith, enjoyed a professional hockey career spanning 17 years with franchises including the Minnesota North Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. Keith won the Stanley Cup in 1988 while with the Oilers and later worked as Associate Coach under Dallas Eakins, former head coach of both the Oilers and Toronto Marlies.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Stouffville Spirit	OPJHL		1	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Stouffville Spirit	OPJHL		41	5	8	13	28		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Stouffville Spirit	OPJHL		48	11	20	31	38		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Stouffville Spirit	OPJHL		33	16	13	29	63		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Lake Superior State U.	CCHA		36	6	7	13	22		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Lake Superior State U.	CCHA		38	7	9	16	53		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Lake Superior State U.	CCHA		36	10	14	24	39		—	—	—	—

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010-11 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season	Lake Superior State U.	CCHA	34	9	15	24	18	—	—	—	—	—
2010-11 ECHL season	Reading Royals	ECHL	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2010-11 AHL season	Toronto Marlies	AHL	5	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2011-12 AHL season	Toronto Marlies	AHL	69	7	9	16	58	17	1	1	2	9
2012-13 AHL season	Toronto Marlies	AHL	67	8	11	19	60	9	4	2	6	12
2013–14 NHL season	Edmonton Oilers	NHL	30	3	2	5	21	—	—	—	—	—
2013-14 AHL season	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL	47	12	11	23	74	3	0	1	1	0
2014–15 NHL season	Edmonton Oilers	NHL	3	0	0	0	5	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15 AHL season	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL	6	1	1	2	2	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Utica Comets	AHL	45	11	8	19	26	9	1	2	3	2
2015-16 DEL season	Schwenninger Wild Wings	DEL	46	16	39	55	67	—	—	—	—
2016-17 DEL season	Schwenninger Wild Wings	DEL	52	16	28	44	55	—	—	—	—
2017-18 DEL season	Schwenninger Wild Wings	DEL	51	18	30	48	30	2	2	0	2	0
2018-19 DEL season	Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers	DEL	52	12	23	35	8	8	0	1	1	2
2019-20 DEL season	Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers	DEL	52	9	24	33	36
NHL totals !33 !3 !2 !5 !26 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! —