Pierre Pilote

Pierre Pilote
Position	Defenceman
Shoots	Left
Height Weight	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 178 lb (81 kg)
Teams	Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Bisons
Nationality	Canadian
Born	December 11,1931, Kenogami, Quebec, Canada
Pro Career	1955 – 1969

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.

Career Statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1951–52	St. Catharines TeePees	OHA		52	21	32	53	0		—	—	—	—	—
1951–52	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		60	25	48	73	122		—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		61	2	14	16	85		—	—	—	—	—
1953–54	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		67	2	28	30	108		3	0	0	0	6
1954–55	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		63	10	28	38	125		10	0	4	4	18
1955–56	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		43	0	11	11	118		5	0	2	2	4
1955–56	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		20	3	5	8	34		—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	3	14	17	117		—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	6	24	30	91		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	7	30	37	79		6	0	2	2	10
1959–60	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	7	38	45	100		4	0	1	1	8
1960–61	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	6	29	35	165		12	3	12	15	8
1961–62	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		59	7	35	42	97		12	0	7	7	8
1962–63	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		59	8	18	26	57		6	0	8	8	8
1963–64	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	7	46	53	84		7	2	6	8	6
1964–65	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		68	14	45	59	162		12	0	7	7	22
1965–66	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		51	2	34	36	60		6	0	2	2	10
1966–67	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		70	6	46	52	90		6	2	4	6	6
1967–68	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		74	1	36	37	69		11	1	3	4	12
1968–69	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		69	3	18	21	46		4	0	1	1	4
NHL totals				890	80	418	498	1251		86	8	53	61	102

Gallery

Norm Ullman and Pierre Pilote battle for the puck while Al Arbour and Glenn Hall look on, January 19, 1957.

Billy Harris, Pierre Pilote, Glenn Hall, Ed Litzenberger, December 20, 1959.

Preceded by Ed Litzenberger	Chicago Black Hawks Captains 1961-68	Succeeded by Pat Stapleton
Preceded by Doug Harvey	Winner of the Norris Trophy 1963, 1964, 1965	Succeeded by Jacques Laperrière