- Pierre Pilote
Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote (born
December 11 , 1931 in Kénogami,Quebec ) was a Canadianprofessional ice hockey defenceman. After playing junior hockey for theSt. Catharines Teepees in theOntario Hockey Association , Pierre played minor professional hockey for theBuffalo Bisons in theAmerican Hockey League . Pilote played 890 games in the National Hockey League. He scored 80 goals and 418 assists for 498 points in 13 seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks and one year for theToronto Maple Leafs .His family moved to
Fort Erie, Ontario - across thePeace Bridge fromBuffalo, New York - when he was very young. Because the local rink collapsed in a storm, [ [http://www.bisonshistory.com/peace-bridge.htm The Peace Bridge Arena, Fort Erie, Ontario ] ] Pierre did not play his first organized hockey game until he was 17 years of age.He stood 5 foot 9 and his playing weight was 165. Pierre was a three time recipient of the
Norris Trophy for outstanding defenceman in 1963, 1964, and 1965 as well as runner-up in 1962, 1966 and 1967. He was on the first or second all-star team every year from 1960 to 1967. During his playing career, he was respected as an iron man playing 376 consecutive games. Wearing his familiar number 3, Pierre played his best hockey teamed with Elmer 'Moose' Vasko on the Chicago blue line. Together they formed one of the great all time defence pairings.In 1961 the Black Hawks won the
Stanley Cup and at the beginning of the following season, Pierre was named Captain of the team.Pierre was inducted in the
Hockey Hall of Fame in1975 . In1998 , he was ranked number 59 on "The Hockey News "' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. In 2005, in a series of stamps honouring great hockey stars,Canada Post honoured Pierre with his own stamp.The Blackhawks announced that Pilote's #3 jersey will be retired in a joint ceremony retiring the same number in honor of
Keith Magnuson . The ceremony will be held on November 12, 2008 before the Blackhawks face off against the Boston Bruins in an Original 6 matchup at the United Center.References
External links
*Legendsmember|Player|P197505|Pierre Pilote
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