Pierre Pilote

Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote (born December 11, 1931 in Kenogami, Quebec) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. After playing junior hockey for the St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Hockey Association, Pierre 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 Blackhawks and one year for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario - across the Peace Bridge from Buffalo, New York - when he was very young. Because the local rink burnt down, 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 defenseman 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 Blackhawks 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 in 1975. In 1998, 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..

Pierre does not maintain any connection with hockey or the NHL. He lives in relative anonymity in Ontario and owns a Tim Hortons Donut Shop.

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