Bill Torrey was captain of his Vermont Academy hockey team, played in two NCAA hockey championships at St. Lawrence University, and became one of the most accomplished executives in professional sports. For his outstanding career, Vermont academy honors Torrey, class of 1952, with the Florence Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award (1987).

Ineligible to play hockey his senior year of college, Torrey spent his final season announcing the games on the radio. His broadcasts impressed the Eastern Hockey Radio Network and they hired him as an announcer. In 1959, Torrey became Manager of the Pittsburgh Hornets, and began his National Hockey League career as Executive Vice President of an expansion team, the California Golden Seals.

As General Manager, he lead another team, the New York Islanders, in a 14 season winning streak that included six Patrick Division titles, three Campbell Conference titles, three Prince of Wales titles, and four consecutive Stanley Cups. Torrey was twice named NHL Executive of the Year and received the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey. In 1993, Torrey became President of the Florida Panthers expansion team, and in 1995, he was inducted into the National Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.