Detroit Lions emerging young wideout Jameson Williams recently took in his first live NHL game and came away from it having coined a new name for an empty-net goal.
“At the end of the game, they move the goalie, there’s no goalie, so you get free goals,” Williams said, via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket.
Later, Williams would compare it to football, saying, “Like no safety, cover zero.”
Williams’ term isn’t likely to take off and become a part of the hockey vernacular, mainly because empty-netters aren’t free at all. However, it’s not a bad effort from a potential new fan of the game. Plus, for a sport with such a unique and colorful language, perhaps the term “empty-netter” needs a little life.
When Williams isn’t learning the game of hockey at a Detroit Red Wings game, he’s suiting up for the city’s football team.
The 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Lions out of Alabama, Williams didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 13 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the previous year’s NCAA National Championship Game against Georgia. The explosive wideout had only one catch for 41 yards and a touchdown in six games, but he gave Lions fans a glimpse of what was possibly to come. That is until another setback derailed the start of the 2023 season for Williams. Suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling policy back in April, Williams served four games of a six-game suspension, returning to the Lions’ lineup in Week 5.
Williams had his best game as a pro in the Lions 20-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, hauling in two of three targets for 53 yards and a 45-yard score.