Didier Pitre
Encyclopedia
Joseph George Didier "Cannonball" Pitre (1 September 1883— 29 July 1934) was a Canadian
professional
ice hockey
forward
. He was nicked named "Cannonball". One of the first players to join the Montreal Canadiens
, Pitre's French-Canadian heritage helped give his line-mates the nickname the Flying Frenchmen, brought upon by his exceptional speed. As well as playing for the Canadiens, Pitre played for several other teams in various leagues such as the International Professional Hockey League
, the first professional hockey league, and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
. A prolific scorer, Pitre helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup
for the first time in 1916
. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1962. He was the uncle of Vic Desjardins
, a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
.
, who played in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
. He joined the Soo team in 1904. By 1905/06, he was the already the top scorer in the league scoring 41 goals in 22 games played. Pitre was on the IHL all-star first team that year in 1906 and again in 1907.
He joined the Montreal Canadiens
in 1909. He stayed for four years, before leaving for the west again. He spent a year playing with the Vancouver Millionaires. Pitre returned to Montreal
the next year. In 1916, Pitre led the National Hockey Association
in regular season assists and points. He scored 24 goals, 15 assists (assists in those days were one per goal and only if the official scorer thought it contributed to the goal being scored) for 39 points. He also helped lead the Canadiens to their first ever Stanley Cup
. He led the playoffs in goals as well. In the 1919 Stanley Cup
playoffs, which were never completed due to the influenza epidemic, he led the playoffs in points. By 1921, the Canadiens had so much depth at forward
, and an opening on defence due to the death of future Hall of Famer Joe Hall
in the influenza epidemic, so they decided to try Pitre as a defenceman; not as difficult a transition as one might think, because he had previously been a "Rover" during the days of "seven man" hockey. He remained with Montreal through the formation of the NHL
and into 1923.
Pitre played essentially his entire career as a forward
. At age 38, however, Pitre for the first time regularly played as a defenceman. He played defence for his final two seasons before retiring. Pitre was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1962. His nephew, Vic Desjardins
, would also play in the NHL and would be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
.
Didier Pitre was also a member of the great line called "The Flying Frenchmen" alongside of Jack Laviolette
and Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde. He died July 29, 1934 as a result of acute indigestion.
, Pitre, with the Montreal Canadiens
, and Jack Darragh
, of Ottawa, each had natural hat tricks in a 10-6 win for the Canadiens. That feat was not repeated until Jonathan Cheechoo
, with the San Jose Sharks
, and Ryan Smyth
, Edmonton Oilers
, each did in a 6-4 Edmonton victory on October 19, 2006.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
. He was nicked named "Cannonball". One of the first players to join the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, Pitre's French-Canadian heritage helped give his line-mates the nickname the Flying Frenchmen, brought upon by his exceptional speed. As well as playing for the Canadiens, Pitre played for several other teams in various leagues such as the International Professional Hockey League
International Professional Hockey League
The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included...
, the first professional hockey league, and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
Pacific Coast Hockey Association
The Pacific Coast Hockey Association was a professional men's ice hockey league in western Canada and the western United States, which operated from 1911 to 1924 when it then merged with the Western Canada Hockey League...
. A prolific scorer, Pitre helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
for the first time in 1916
1916 Stanley Cup Finals
-See also:* 1915–16 Montreal Canadiens season* 1915–16 NHA season* 1915–16 PCHA season* List of Stanley Cup champions...
. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1962. He was the uncle of Vic Desjardins
Vic Desjardins
Victor Arthur Desjardins was an ice hockey player. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States. Desjardins played professionally in the National Hockey League and American Hockey Association. He played with the Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers. He was inducted into the United...
, a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
.
IHL
Didier Pitre's first major hockey league was in an early IHL playing with the American Soo IndiansSoo Indians
The Soo Eagles are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-Eagles era:...
, who played in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
. He joined the Soo team in 1904. By 1905/06, he was the already the top scorer in the league scoring 41 goals in 22 games played. Pitre was on the IHL all-star first team that year in 1906 and again in 1907.
Shamrocks
The next season, he left as a free agent and played with the Montreal Shamrocks in the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association. He lasted only one year before leaving to play with the Edmonton Eskimos. He stayed three years with the Eskimos before jumping contract and coming back to eastern Canada where he played with the Renfrew Creamery Kings for the remainder of 1908.Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in 1909. He stayed for four years, before leaving for the west again. He spent a year playing with the Vancouver Millionaires. Pitre returned to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
the next year. In 1916, Pitre led the National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
in regular season assists and points. He scored 24 goals, 15 assists (assists in those days were one per goal and only if the official scorer thought it contributed to the goal being scored) for 39 points. He also helped lead the Canadiens to their first ever Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. He led the playoffs in goals as well. In the 1919 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoffs, which were never completed due to the influenza epidemic, he led the playoffs in points. By 1921, the Canadiens had so much depth at forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, and an opening on defence due to the death of future Hall of Famer Joe Hall
Joe Hall
Joseph Henry Hall , nicknamed Bad Joe Hall, was a professional ice hockey defenceman who played professionally from 1904 until 1919 when he died as a result of the influenza epidemic...
in the influenza epidemic, so they decided to try Pitre as a defenceman; not as difficult a transition as one might think, because he had previously been a "Rover" during the days of "seven man" hockey. He remained with Montreal through the formation of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and into 1923.
Last seasons
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
. At age 38, however, Pitre for the first time regularly played as a defenceman. He played defence for his final two seasons before retiring. Pitre was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1962. His nephew, Vic Desjardins
Vic Desjardins
Victor Arthur Desjardins was an ice hockey player. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States. Desjardins played professionally in the National Hockey League and American Hockey Association. He played with the Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers. He was inducted into the United...
, would also play in the NHL and would be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
.
Didier Pitre was also a member of the great line called "The Flying Frenchmen" alongside of Jack Laviolette
Jack Laviolette
Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played nine seasons for the Montreal Canadiens hockey club and was their first Captain, Coach, and General Manager....
and Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde. He died July 29, 1934 as a result of acute indigestion.
Trivia
In a January 16, 1919 game against the Ottawa SenatorsOttawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
, Pitre, with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, and Jack Darragh
Jack Darragh
John Proctor "Jack" Darragh was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League and its predecessor the National Hockey Association.-Playing career:Darragh played his entire professional career with the Ottawa Senators...
, of Ottawa, each had natural hat tricks in a 10-6 win for the Canadiens. That feat was not repeated until Jonathan Cheechoo
Jonathan Cheechoo
Jonathan Earl Cheechoo is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. During the 2005–06 National Hockey League season, he led the NHL with 56 goals and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy...
, with the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and Ryan Smyth
Ryan Smyth
Ryan Alexander Gordon Smyth is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, each did in a 6-4 Edmonton victory on October 19, 2006.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... | A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... | Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1904 1904 FAHL season The inaugural 1904 Federal Amateur Hockey League season lasted from January 6 until February 24. Teams played a six game schedule.-Regular season:... |
Montreal Le National | FAHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1905 1905 CAHL season The 1905 Canadian Amateur Hockey League season lasted from January 2 until March 11. Teams played a ten game schedule. This year saw the addition of two teams, Montreal Westmount and Montreal Nationals. Montreal Nationals had previously been in the FAHL. Montreal Victorias won the league... |
Montreal Le National | CAHL Canadian Amateur Hockey League The Canadian Amateur Hockey League was an early men's amateur hockey league founded in 1898, replacing the organization that was formerly the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada before the 1898–99 season. The league existed for seven seasons, folding in 1905 and was itself replaced by the Eastern... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1904–05 1904–05 IPHL season The 1904-05 WPHL season was played by teams of the International Professional Hockey League.-Final standings:-References:* Compiled by Ernie Fitzsimmons... |
Michigan Soo Indians | IPHL International Professional Hockey League The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included... |
13 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1905–06 1905–06 IPHL season The 1905–06 WPHL season was played by teams of the International Professional Hockey League.-Final standings:-References:* Compiled by Ernie Fitzsimmons... |
Michigan Soo Indians | IPHL | 22 | 41 | 0 | 41 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1906–07 1906–07 IPHL season The 1906–07 WPHL season was played by teams of the International Professional Hockey League.-Final standings:-References:* Compiled by Ernie Fitzsimmons... |
Michigan Soo Indians | IPHL | 23 | 25 | 11 | 36 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1907–08 1907–08 ECAHA season The 1907–08 Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association season lasted from December 29, 1907 until March 7, 1908. Teams played a ten game schedule. The Montreal Wanderers would win the league championship with a record of eight wins, two losses.... |
Montreal Shamrocks Montreal Shamrocks The Montreal Shamrocks were an amateur, later professional, men's ice hockey club in existence from 1886, merging with the Montreal Crystals club in 1896. They won the Stanley Cup ice hockey championship in 1899 and 1900... |
ECAHA | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1908–09 | Edmonton Eskimos | ESrHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | ||
| 1909 1909 FHL season The 1909 Federal Hockey League season was the sixth and final season of the league. The league had four teams participate this season, Cornwall, returning and three new entries, Ottawa Senators, Renfrew Creamery Kings and Smith's Falls. Smith's Falls had previously played in the league... |
Renfrew Creamery Kings Renfrew Creamery Kings The Renfrew Hockey Club, also known as the Creamery Kings and the "Renfrew Millionaires" was a founding franchise in 1909 of the National Hockey Association, the precursor to the National Hockey League... |
FHL Federal Amateur Hockey League The Federal Amateur Hockey League was a Canadian men's senior-level ice hockey league that played six seasons from 1904 to 1909. The league was formed initially to provide a league for teams not accepted by the rival Canadian Amateur Hockey League . One team, the Montreal Le National, was the first... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1910 1910 NHA season The 1910 NHA season was the first season of the National Hockey Association men's ice hockey league. The season started on January 5, but was suspended immediately and the league then absorbed the Ottawa and Shamrocks teams of the Canadian Hockey Association and the season continued from January 15... |
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHA National Hockey Association The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League... |
12 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1910–11 | Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 16 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1911–12 | Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 18 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1912–13 | Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 17 | 24 | 0 | 24 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1913–14 1913–14 PCHA season The 1913–14 PCHA season was the third season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 5, 1913 until February 24, 1914. Like the previous two seasons, teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The Victoria... |
Vancouver Millionaires Vancouver Millionaires The Vancouver Millionaires were a professional ice hockey team that competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League between 1911 and 1926... |
PCHA | 15 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1914–15 1914–15 NHA season The 1914–15 NHA season was the sixth season of the National Hockey Association and played from December 26, 1914 until March 3, 1915. Each team played 20 games. The Ottawa Senators won the NHA championship in a two game, total goal playoff against the Montreal Wanderers... |
Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 20 | 30 | 4 | 34 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1915–16 | Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 24 | 24 | 15 | 39 | 42 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 18 | ||
| 1916–17 | Montreal Canadiens | NHA | 21 | 21 | 6 | 27 | 50 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 38 | ||
| 1917–18 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 20 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | ||
| 1918–19 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 17 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | ||
| 1919–20 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 22 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1920–21 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 23 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1921–22 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 23 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1922–23 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| IPHL totals | 58 | 77 | 11 | 88 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHA totals | 128 | 156 | 25 | 181 | 254 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 56 | ||||
| PCHA totals | 15 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 127 | 64 | 34 | 98 | 84 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 16 | ||||
- All statistics are taken from NHL.com.