Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Heart of the Blackhawks The Pierre Pilote Story by L. Waxy Gregoire Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story by L. Waxy Gregoire. When the ghosts of hockey's past reminisce about the 1960 , they almost always focus on superstars Bobby Hull and with Mr. Goalie Glenn Hall also getting a lot of attention. Not as many people know the story of Pierre Pilote, the defenseman who was so instrumental in Chicago's success and 1961 championship. That can all change this year as Pilote brings readers rinkside in this compelling biography, Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story . It is an authorized biography co-written with L. Waxy Gregoire and David M. Dupuis. Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com From his upbringing in northern Quebec in which he played in a Monday night beer league, to of the Blackhawks, his captivating story of success has it all. Any sports fan will enjoy the stories of Pilote teaming up with the likes of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall, Moose Vasko, Tommy Ivan, , and Billy Reay. This is truly an unforgettable story told by an unforgettable star. Pierre Pilote was one of the most outstanding defensemen of his time. In the days before redefined how defensemen played the game, Pilote was already establishing himself as an offensive catalyst. "Pierre changed the game quite a bit. He was even pre-Bobby Orr. With the defense moving in to be part of the offense, he was certainly influential," suggested Hawks goaltending great Glenn Hall. Pilote was essentially bridging the generation gap between and Orr. Pilote's blue line offensive style was due to his metamorphosis from a center to a defenseman in his late teens. He had always grown up as one of the top offensive forwards. His game was very raw and creative, as he never played organized hockey while growing up. But he tried out for and made the St. Catherine's Tee Pee's junior hockey team by switching to defense. "And then when I started playing defense, I had to learn the position, but I was always thinking offensively, if you know what I mean. I guess it evolved when the Blackhawks started getting guys like (Bobby) Hull and (Stan) Mikita and stuff like that. We became more offensive minded I guess. I was involved in that kind of trend," recalls Pilote. It took some time for Pilote to make the big leagues. He apprenticed for four seasons with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL before making it to stay in 1956-57 with the basement dwelling Chicago Blackhawks. By 1961 he was a Stanley Cup champion and later was named team captain. The Hawks had floundered for years prior to Pilote's arrival. But with the likes of Pilote, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall, the Hawks became Stanley Cup champions in 1961. Pilote scored the winning or tying in every Blackhawks victory that year. 1961 pre-dated the Conn Smythe Trophy, but Pilote was the obvious playoff MVP. His 15 points led all players. Pilote started piling up assists as his confidence improved, and he quickly became one of the best blue liners in the league. The unflappable defender became a master of the give-and-go, a tactic his teammates came quick to rely on. In 1963-64, Pilote recorded 46 assists, tying an NHL record at the time. His best offensive season came in 1964-65 when he scored 59 points, breaking Babe Pratt's record of 57 points by a defenseman. Although fairly small for a defenseman he played an aggressive game. In fact one year he led the NHL in minutes with 165. His all-round play earned him the Norris Trophy in 1963, 1964 and 1965 and was a first team all star 5 straight times. Pilote was a great influence for many of the NHL's following generation of defenders. "Growing up, I was a big Chicago Blackhawks fan so I watched Pierre Pilote and Elmer Vasko, Doug Jarrett and all those guys that played on that team," remembered Larry Robinson, the great Montreal rearguard. "Before Orr, there was Pierre and Doug Harvey. Those were the guys who pioneered defensemen taking the puck and rushing up the ice with it and tried to control the play." "What Pierre Pilote did for me was show me that a defenseman had to have his head up and the puck in front of him so that he is always ready to move the puck," said New York Islanders standout Denis Potvin. "Starting in my junior career and later in the , that's the way I tried to play: Always ready to make a pass. Pierre was not a huge defenseman but he was one of the best ever at separating a player from the puck and that's very important. A defenseman's two most important jobs are to stop the opposition and generate the offense and I saw Pierre as one of the best at doing that." For more modern fans, many old-timers also compare today's Scott Niedermayer to Pilote, although Pilote was never as gifted as a skater. Pierre Pilote's great career was recognized in 1975 when he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He retired having played 890 regular season NHL games, in which he scored 80 goals, 418 assists and 498 points. Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story. “The book is a sympathetic and detailed account of Pilote's journey to Hockey immortality . . . Hockey fans — especially old time Hawks devotees — will delight in the portraits offered here of Pilote's equally famous teammates.” — Publishers Weekly. From the beginning, the hockey gods looked favourably on Pierre Pilote, a French Canadian lad who went on to become captain of the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the 1960s and one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history. Pilote takes us on a rich and unforgettable journey through the rinks and dressing rooms of the Junior “A” St. Catharines Teepees and AHL Buffalo Bisons to his first big and embarrassing shift as a rookie with the Blackhawks. Sit on the bench when Pilote plays with the likes of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall, Moose Vasko, and while he is coached by Tommy Ivan, Rudy Pilous, and Billy Reay; get up close for his on-ice battles with Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, and Henri Richard; and hear the incredible story of how “the swingingest team” from the Windy City captured the imaginations of fans and the hockey world in their 1961 pursuit of the elusive Stanley Cup. L. Waxy Gregoire is a hockey buff, member of the International Hockey Researchers Association, and secretary of the Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Fame, where he is heavily involved in researching and writing about local hockey. He lives in Penetanguishene, . David M. Dupuis , former goaltender, coach, and goaltending instructor, and registered practical nurse, is a member of the International Hockey Researchers Association. He is the author of the bestselling hockey biography Sawchuk: The Troubles and Triumphs of the World’s Greatest Goalie (Stoddart, 1998). He lives in Tiny, Ontario. Pierre Pilote , born in 1931 in Kénogami, Québec, became a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. He lives in Wyevale, Ontario. Published: September 2016. Dimensions: 6 x 9 in. Reviews. “The book is a sympathetic and detailed account of Pilote's journey to Hockey immortality . . . Hockey fans—especially old time Hawks devotees —will delight in the portraits offered here of Pilote's equally famous teammates.” — Publishers Weekly. “This book about overcoming challenges is a must for hockey fans who want to learn about a star from yesteryear.” — Quill & Quire. “It’s a story of one of hockey’s great defencemen, the master first-passer, the body banging, blueline quarterback who came to the party fashionably late, but left a lasting impression.” — Ross Brewitt. “Pilote brings readers rinkside in this compelling biography, Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story.” — HockeyBookReviews.com. “Fans of hockey history will be delighted by this book’s attention to detail, including the highlights and lowlights of several playoff runs. The story is well-written, fascinating and diligently researched, especially descriptions of hockey life in a time before big player endorsements and multi-million dollar contracts.” — Scene Magazine. “He’s kept a relatively low profile since he retired after the 1969 season, but hockey fans will rejoice in this wonderful autobiography . . . a very enjoyable sports bio about one of the very greatest.” — Booklist. “A very solid, refreshing read and one I would recommend for hockey fans, highly recommend for Blackhawks fans.” — OrderOfBooks.com. “A well-researched volume of work, authors L. Waxy Gregoire and David M. Dupuis undertook the gargantuan task of creating an incredible biography that had tremendous input from Pilote himself . . . The authors deserve a great deal of credit for not only going to extreme lengths to put together one of the best-researched hockey books around, but for also constructing a tale that sheds light on how great Pilote truly was. It is a fitting tribute to a talent that deserves far more credit than he receives and readers will definitely gain a greater sense of appreciation for what he accomplished.” — Sportsology. Pierre Pilote. Three-time NHL Defenseman of the Year Pierre Pilote was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. A member of the 1961 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, Pilote’s kept a low profile since he retired after the 1969 season, but hockey fans will cheer again for his life story. He’ll be here to present his biography, Heart of the Blackhawks. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 at 7:00 p.m. Anderson's Bookshop Naperville | 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville PLEASE CALL FOR TICKETS (630) 355-2665. Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story (Paperback) A Hockey Hall of Fame looks back at his life on the ice From the beginning, the hockey gods looked favourably on Pierre Pilote, a French Canadian lad who went on to become captain of the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the 1960s and one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history. Shopping cart. There are no products in your shopping cart. 0 Items Total: $0.00. Event FAQs. How do I attend? All of our virtual events require registration, and some also require the purchase of a book. Please visit the event page for the complete information about each one. Featured books will be shipped out or available for pick-up starting the day after the event. Thank you for your patience. Mailing List. Get announcements and updates on all of our upcoming events, featured favorites and Anderson's Bookshop and Bookfair news! Pierre Pilote. Pierre Pilote was born in Kénogami (now Saguenay), Québec, 200 km north of Québec City. He was the eldest of six children. Growing up in Kénogami, Pilote watched hockey games, but didn’t play organized hockey. After the Second World War, Pilote and his family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario. It was there that he first started playing hockey. Although he knew how to skate before arriving in Fort Erie, his first pair of skates had been his mother’s. In fact, for much of his childhood, Pilote’s passion had been baseball. It was only after being teased by local boys in Fort Erie that he finally purchased his own skates and started playing hockey. Pilote was keen to develop his hockey skills and skated whenever he could, but Fort Erie remained without an arena until 1948; the town’s only arena had collapsed during a snowstorm in 1939. Despite getting into organized hockey later than most boys (around the age of 17), Pilote soon set himself apart from his peers. In 1949, his second year of hockey, he began playing for the Niagara Falls Cataracts, a Junior-B team in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). Junior Hockey. The following season (1950–51), Pierre Pilote moved up from Junior-B and started playing with the St. Catharines Teepees, a Junior-A team. In 1950–51, he transitioned into playing defence and scored 26 points while racking up 230 penalty minutes (a league high). His second season with the Teepees saw him take some offensive strides, registering an impressive 53 points in 52 games. By the start of the 1952–53 season, Pilote was playing professional hockey with the Buffalo Bisons in the (the Bisons were affiliated with the St. Catharines Tee Pees). Pierre continued to develop a reputation as a blueliner who was tough as nails but could put the puck in the net. In his second full season (1953–54) with the Bisons, he scored 30 points and picked up 108 penalty minutes. Until September 1954, the Bisons were affiliated with the Montréal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). After cutting ties with Montréal, Buffalo operated independently until the Chicago Black Hawks (later Blackhawks) purchased them on 7 January 1955. During the 1955–56 season, Pilote split his time between Buffalo and Chicago. While with the Black Hawks, Pilote was part of a historic game against the New York Rangers on 5 January 1956. It was the first time that a hockey game was broadcast on a national American television network. Although Chicago lost 4–1, his friends in Fort Erie were thrilled they could watch him on the Buffalo station. The following year, Pilote made the jump to the NHL full-time. Chicago Black Hawks. Pierre Pilote made an immediate impact with the Black Hawks both on the score sheet and in the penalty box. Continuing his play as an offensively gifted rearguard, Pilote was a catalyst on the power play. He was also not afraid to mix it up with other players, taking on both Maurice and Henri Richard in the same brawl during a game against the Montréal Canadiens. In Pilote’s first five full seasons with the Black Hawks, he never missed a regular season game. His streak of 376 consecutive games came to an end during the 1961–62 season after he sustained a shoulder injury. Stanley Cup and James Norris Trophy. During the 1961 playoffs, Pilote’s play helped his team capture the Stanley Cup. He tied Gordie Howe for most points (15) scored in the postseason and was integral in helping Chicago end a 23-year Stanley Cup drought. Following the Black Hawks’ victory, Pilote was named captain of the team, a position he held until 1968. At the end of the 1962–63 season, Pilote won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy, the award for best all-around defenceman in the NHL. He would win the award two more times, giving him the distinction of winning it in three consecutive seasons. By this point in his career, he had firmly demonstrated that he was one of the league’s best puck-moving and offensively gifted defenceman. In the 1964–65 season, which led to his third Norris, Pilote set an NHL record for the most points (59) scored by a defenceman in a single season, surpassing Toronto’s Walter “Babe” Pratt, who tallied 57 points with the Maple Leafs during the 1943–44 season. In addition to his Norris Trophy success with the Black Hawks, Pilote was also voted a First-Team All-Star for five consecutive seasons from 1963 to 1967 and played in eight NHL All-Star Games. Trade to Toronto. During a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 13 March 1968, which Chicago won 4–3, Pierre Pilote reached the 400-assist milestone. It would be his final assist with the Chicago Black Hawks. On 23 May 1968, in a stunning move, the Black Hawks traded Pilote to the for right-winger . No one was more surprised by the transaction than Pilote. In his memoirs, he recalled being notified about the deal by Toronto sports reporter Red Burnett rather than by his organization. Despite his incredible success with the franchise, Chicago believed that his game was declining. Flabbergasted by how the team had handled the situation, Pilote contemplated retirement but eventually decided he was not done with hockey and reported to Toronto. Pilote played 821 regular season games with Chicago, amassing 77 goals, 400 assists, and 1,205 penalty minutes. In 82 playoff games with the Black Hawks, he scored eight times and assisted on 52 goals. As of May 2015, his 400 assists rank sixth in all-time franchise history. Toronto Maple Leafs and Retirement. While initially cool to the prospect of playing in Toronto, Pilote soon embraced the opportunity to continue playing hockey with the Maple Leafs. The veteran defenceman played all but seven games for Toronto that season. However, it would be his last season in the NHL; his final game was a postseason match against the on 6 April 1969, which the Leafs lost. Although Pilote retired from professional sport, he remained involved in hockey and coached his son’s minor bantam and midget teams. Entrepreneurship. Pierre Pilote had always taken an interest in business, even during his days of professional hockey. While playing with Chicago, Pilote took a business administration course, and by the time he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he owned a used car business in Fort Erie, laundromats in Welland and St. Catharines, and an advertising firm in Hamilton, Ontario. After retirement, he also created his own vinyl luggage company and built up a business in Toronto that, at one time, employed 30 people. By 1986 Pierre had officially retired from business, having sold his car dealership, laundromats, advertising firm, and luggage company. Honours. In summer 1975, Pierre Pilote was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. On 12 November 2008, in a joint ceremony, the Chicago Blackhawks retired the #3 jersey that had been worn by Pilote and later by . He is one of only seven players to have their sweater hanging in the rafters at the . He was also inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in September 2011. In a fitting hometown tribute, in January 2012 the Jonquière Sports Palace in Saguenay, Québec, unveiled a bronze statue of Pilote, which stands in the lobby of the arena. Pilote has also been featured in two Canada Post collections. The first, in 2005, was part of an NHL All-Star series. The second was a collection commemorating the country’s best defenceman from the Original Six era. It was unveiled in 2014 and also includes Bobby Orr, Harry Howell, Red Kelly, Doug Harvey, and Tim Horton. Pilote lived in Wyevale, Ontario. He had four children and 10 grandchildren. His beloved wife Annie passed away in May 2012; they were married for nearly 60 years. Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story. Bobby Hull has often joked that he loved wearing the Chicago Blackhawks jersey because its distinctive crest looked a lot like Pierre Pilote’s face. Pilote, who played from 1955 to ’69, became one of the best defencemen in National Hockey League history, winning the Stanley Cup in 1961, and the Norris Trophy as top blue-liner in three consecutive years, and being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. How he overcame many challenges to achieve these accomplishments is the subject of Heart of the Blackhawks , a comprehensive, though not entirely successful, look at Pilote’s NHL career. Authors L. Waxy Gregoire and David M. Dupuis write primarily in the third person, but it is Pilote’s own comments on his career that truly tell the story. Although he retired in 1969, Pilote, at age 81, is still peeved at a trade that sent him to Toronto the season before, following 13 years with the Blackhawks. Pilote says he considered retiring to become a salesman for a copy-machine company, but changed his mind after listening to some records by a motivational speaker talking about life decisions. It’s a priceless little nugget you don’t have to be a hockey fan to appreciate. Pilote’s journey from boyhood in small-town Quebec to teen phenom in Fort Erie, Ontario, and later with the powerhouse Junior ‘A’ St. Catharines TeePees, was not a smooth ride. He couldn’t speak English, which posed challenges on and off the ice. He learned to bridge Canada’s two solitudes, but also had to fight hard for a roster spot. The coach in St. Catharines wanted to cut him following a tryout, but the team’s new general manager, Rudy Pilous, who scouted him, insisted Pilote be part of the team. Pilous, himself inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994, subsequently fired the coach and assumed his duties. He and Pilote became intertwined when Pilous was appointed coach of the Hawks and celebrated the ’61 Stanley Cup win with his star defenceman as captain. This book about overcoming challenges is a must for hockey fans who want to learn about a star from yesteryear, but readers will have to slog through a lot of detailed research to get to the meat of the story.