Pierre Pilote

Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote (born December 11, 1931, in Kenogami, Quebec; died September 9, 2017) was a Canadian professional defenceman. After playing junior hockey for the St. Catharines TeePees in the Ontario Hockey Association, Pilote played minor professional hockey for the Buffalo Bisons in the American 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 the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Early Life
His family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario when he was very young. Because the local rink collapsed in a storm, Pilote did not play his first organized hockey game until he was 17 years of age.

Playing Career
He stood 5 foot 9 and his playing weight was 165. Pilote 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, Pilote 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, Pilote was named captain of the team.

Pilote was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1998, he was ranked number 59 on the List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News. In 2005, in a series of stamps honouring great hockey stars, Canada Post honoured Pilote with his own stamp.

On July 18, 2008, the Blackhawks announced that the #3 jersey worn by Pilote and Keith Magnuson would be retired in a joint ceremony. The ceremony was held on November 12, 2008, before the Blackhawks faced off against the Boston Bruins at the United Center.