BLACKHAWK UP
Last week, Wyevale resident and NHL Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote was honoured by the team he played on for most of his pro career
Posted By CHRISTINA BERNARDO
Posted 1 year ago
His jersey number will go down in history, by going up into the rafters of Chicago's United Center.
Surrounded by family and friends, on Nov. 12 in Chicago, Wyevale resident Pierre Pilote watched as his No. 3 Blackhawks jersey was raised to the rafters in the home of the Hawks.
Pilote felt humbled to have his number retired by the team he spent the majority of his NHL career with.
"My son David was next to me. When it almost got within 10 to 15 feet to the top I kept looking and he put his arm on my shoulder -- I was all right then -- when he put his arm on my shoulder he said are you all right dad?'," said Pilote. "The feeling of the whole event was felt after when we got together with family and friends. They were more excited about it than I was. That's the way I felt.
"They were excited for me."
Pilote was honoured along with the late Keith Magnuson.
Both wore No. 3 during their stints with Chicago.
A member of the Blackhawks from
1968 until 1980, Magnuson died in a car crash on Dec. 15, 2003, at the age of 56.
Pilote, who won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 1961, played in 890 National Hockey League games, earned 498 points -- including 80 goals -- and racked up 1,251 penalty minutes.
In recognition of his contributions to the league, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
In his 14 NHL seasons, Pilote accomplished everything he set his mind to.
"One step at a time, climb to the top, but always look at the next step," he said. "My dream was always what's next. Not what's at the top.
"If I played junior B I wanted to play junior A because it was the next step. I never thought about the NHL. After it was the American league and the Buffalo Bisons -- that was the club I had to make and made it. Then all of a sudden I'd thought to make the NHL and I did that."
Then after a year or two, he worked hard to make it to the all-star team.
He then won the Norris trophy -- three times -- as the leagues's best defenceman, and the Stanley Cup.
At the age of 37, after a season with Toronto (he was traded in 1968), Pilote called it quits.
"I retired because I could not produce at the top level anymore," he said. "I could, but the problem is when you get older it's hard to stay in shape."
Following his retirement from the NHL, Pilote had his hand in several businesses such as a vehicle dealership; a coin-operated laundry mat, a luggage manufacturer, a carpet sampling business, and a fibre suitcase manufacturing business.
Pilote officially retired at the age of 55.
Since his retirement, Pilote has coached his grandchildren Wesley Cairn, Zachary Pilote and Brittany Cairn in triple A and house league, respectively. It has been two years since Pilote has been behind the bench.
He also takes time to see the occasional Toronto Maple Leaf game, and takes part in Hockey Hall of Fame alumni matches as part of the entourage.
Today's NHL game has changed, he said.
"It hasn't been reinvented. It's still passing the puck to an open man," he said. "It's bigger and faster because of their training method at an early age. They just train and video that they use--we never had video.
"It's more of a checking game, meaning the closest man to the puck is the one that goes to try to check it even though it's not on his side. We never did that. We kind of stayed on our wings or centre."
Pilote is a fan of several hockey players, including Anaheim Ducks' Rob Niedermayer, Blackhawks' Brian Campbell, Tampa Bay Lightnings' Vincent Lecavalier, and Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby.
His message to athletes who aspire to emulate his career?
"You should start with the end in mind, which is the dream and also edge your bet," he said. "The odds of you making it (to the professional leagues) are very small, so what you should do is go to hockey and school. If you don't make it in hockey you still got you're schooling.
"That will be the most important thing, because you only play 10 years. After that you got to be smart enough to get a job unless you make $4 million or $5 million like they are now."
He and wife Anne moved to Wyevale 14 years ago.
Tonight, a reception will be held in honour of his jersey's retirement, hosted by Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop.
"I don't believe I deserve these things, but I'm happy I'm getting it," he said.
The reception will take place tonight at Bay Moorings Inn, 200 Fox Street, Penetanguishene from 7 until 9 p. m.
- - -
SCORING POINTS
Pierre Pilote
* born Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote on Dec. 11, 1931 in Kenogami, Quebec;
* In 2005, in a series of stamps honouring great hockey players, Canada Post honoured Pilote with his own stamp;
* his family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario when he was very young. Because the local rink collapsed in a storm, Pilote did not play organized hockey until the age of 17;
* first all-star team defense (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967;)
* James Norris Memorial Trophy recipient (1963, 1964, 1965;)
* second all-star team defense (1960, 1961, 1962;)
* traded to Toronto by Chicago for Jim Pappin, May, 23, 1968;
* a sports advisor for Sears Canada from 1961 to 1976.
