HOCKEY NOTES

Didier Pitre  (Cannonball / Bullet Shot / Pit / Old Folks)

5-11 200

b. 1 Sep 1883 Valleyfield, Quebec
d. 29 Jul 1934 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Didier Pitre was the "Bullet Shot" of pre-modern hockey and one of the very first French-Canadian hockey heroes. Weighing upwards of 200 pounds, he had huge legs able to support a thick, strong frame. Those legs drove him along at a smashing clip, giving him the momentum he needed to drive pucks with violent force. He could also stop on a dime, scraping a huge cloud of ice into the air as he dug his blades into the ice.

Pitre began his hockey career in 1903 as a defenseman on the ill-fated Montreal Nationals. After almost three seasons with the Michigan Soo Indians, he joined the Montreal Shamrocks. He also spent time with the Edmonton Eskimos and Renfrew Creamery Kings before he settled with the new Montreal Canadiens in late 1909.

Pitre was the first man player-manager Jack Laviolette signed. It was Pitre and Laviolette's speed that inspired sportswriters to dub the Canadiens the "Flying Frenchmen." After being moved to right wing, Pitre's goal production jumped. His best year was 1914-15 when he notched 30 goals -- almost half his team's total output! When Laviolette moved from defense to left wing alongside Pitre and Newsy Lalonde, the dynamite trio led the Habs to their first Cup win in 1916.

Pitre was one of hockey's first high-priced stars, a man not averse to holding out for ever-higher pay. One year, he signed for a whopping $3,000 at a time when the average salary was about $500. Ironically, Pitre shelled out most of his salary that year in fines for breaking training. Indeed, he was noted for deplorable training habits and missing practices. It has been said the burly Frenchman "trained on champagne," and that was not just hyperbole: Pitre would indeed reinforce himself between periods with a pint of ice-cold bubbly.

Pitre was a rugged individualist on whom team play was often lost, but who was highly valuable nonetheless. Picture the flame-red Canadiens uniform and his hair flying in the breeze ... a man moving with a grace uncommon in a man of his size.

Pitre was also a gentleman. Montreal boss George Kennedy told a story of a game against the Montreal Wanderers in which Pitre was being tripped and butt-ended by rugged winger Gordon Roberts.

Kennedy screamed at Pitre, "Are you afraid of Roberts?"

"No, sure not," was Pitre's surprised response.

"Well, why don't you hit him back?" Kennedy snapped.

"How can I hit back?" Pitre asked. "Roberts, he is very polite, very nice. Each time I fall, he helps me get up and apologizes and says it is an accident ... can I hit a man who is apologizing to me? No, never, it is not done."

In 339 games in several leagues, Pitre scored 313 times. He made the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

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